Columbia  ^^niDeri>ttp 

tnttjfCitpofJIrnjgark 

THE  LIBRARIES 


Bequest  of 

Frederic  Bancroft 

1860-1945 


LIFE 


JOURNALS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE 


OF 


Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler,  LLD, 


BV  HIS  GRANDCHILDREN 


WILLIAM    PARKER    CUTLER 

AND 

JULIA    PERKINS    CUTLER 


VOLUME   1 


CINCINNATI 
EGBERT    CLARKE    &    CO 

1888 


PREFACE. 


The  papers  of  the  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler,  LL.D.,  have  re- 
cently fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  family  of  his  eldest  son, 
Judge  Ephraim  Cutler,  of  Marietta,  Ohio,  who  was  himself 
one  of  the  early  pioneers,  having  moved  there  in  1795  from 
his  New  England  home. 

While  the  labor  of  preparing  these  papers  for  publication 
has  been  performed  from  an  affectionate  regard  for  the  mem- 
ory of  their  ancestor,  it  is  also  hoped  that  they  may  prove  a 
valuable  contribution  to  the  early  history  of  the  North-west. 

The  plan  of  the  volume  may  be  stated  as  follows  : 

1.  After  a  brief  introduction,  a  sketch  of  his  early  life,  to- 
gether with  extracts  from  a  daily  journal  kept  by  himself,  be- 
ginning in  1765  and  running  down  to  1787,  at  which  time  he 
entered  on  the  "  Ohio  business." 

2.  In  order  to  arrive  at  a  proper  understanding  of  the 
value  and  character  of  the  negotiations  he  carried  through 
with  the  Congress  of  1787,  and  as  explanatory  of  the  results 
of  his  labors,  a  brief  examination  and  review  of  the  situation 
of  public  affairs  as  connected  with  the  North-west  Territory 
is  presented ;  also  the  steps  taken  to  organize  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, consisting  of  the  plan  of  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering  for 
the  organization  of  •'  a  new  state  westward  of  the  Ohio  ;"  the 
petition  of  the  officers,  with  their  names  ;  the  correspondence 
of  General  Putnam  with  General  Washington  ;  the  "  Informa- 
tion "  published  by  General  Putnam  and  General  Tupper ;  the 
organization  of  the  Ohio  Company,  with  Dr.  Cutler's  appoint- 
ment as  their  agent. 

(iii) 


iv  Preface. 

3.  Dr.  Cutler's  private  journal,  kept  from  the  day  he  started 
from  his  home,  as  the  agent  of  the  Ohio  Company  to  visit 
New  York,  embracing  his  visit  to  Philadelphia,  until  his  re- 
turn. 

4.  A  journal  of  his  second  visit  to  New  York  to  pay  the 
first  moiety  on  the  land  purchase,  and  to  close  the  contract 
with  the  Board  of  Treasury. 

5.  A  brief  review  of  the  personal  influence  exerted  by  Dr. 
Cutler  in  the  formation  of  the  Governmental  Ordinance  of  July 
13,  1787. 

6.  A  variety  of  correspondence  between  Dr.  Cutler  and 
Winthrop  Sargent,  General  Putnam  and  others,  relating  to 
the  establishment  of  the  Colony  at  Marietta  and  Ohio  Com- 
pany affairs. 

7.  A  journal  of  a  visit  to  Marietta  undertaken  in  July, 
1788. 

8.  A  history  of  the  Scioto  Purchase,  prepared  by  E.  C. 
Dawes  from  papers  and  documents  not  hitherto  published. 

9.  Dr.  Cutler's  correspondence  while  member  of  Congress 
from  1801  to  1805. 

10.  Portions  of  his  literary  and  scientific  correspondence. 

11.  Estimates  of  his  character  by  personal  acquaintances. 

Marietta,  Ohio,  September  3,  1887. 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  gathering  up  and  arranging  the  materials  for  a  biograph- 
ical sketch  of  Dr.  Cutler,  it  becomes  quite  evident  that  an 
important  chapter  in  the  true  history  of  the  early  settlement 
of  the  Ohio  valley  and  the  North-west  has  been  omitted  from 
current  discussions  and  histories  relating  to  that  general 
subject. 

This  omission  is  not  merely  one  of  incidents  and  personal- 
ities, but  extends  to  the  staple  facts  that  constitute  true  and 
reliable  data  for  the  guidance  of  such  an  inquiry.  To  do  jus- 
tice to  a  subject  of  so  much  importance,  the  conditions  under 
which  individual  actors  were  compelled  to  exert  their  efforts 
must  be  understood. 

The  great  organic  law  passed  by  Congress  on  the  13th  of 
July,  1787,  for  the  government  of  the  North-west  Territory, 
occupies  and  deserves  a  prominent  place  in  the  admiration  of 
posterity ;  but  the  reasons  why  some  of  its  most  valuable  pro- 
visions were  inserted,  and  its  main  features  suddenly  and 
favorably  changed,  have  never  been  fully  explained. 

The  reasons  why  a  system  of  surveys  was  organized,  and 
systematic  and  permanent  occupation  of  the  Ohio  country 
was  undertaken  in  direct  connection  with  the  application  of  the 
institutions  of  civil  government,  are  not  well  understood. 

Any  thing  like  a  satisfactory  explanation  of  these,  and 
many  other  similar  inquiries  in  regard  to  vacant  territory, 
must  reach  back  to  the  earliest  lines  of  policy  adopted  by 
Congress,  even  before  its  conquest  from  the  British  crown. 

(v) 


vi  Introduction. 

Not  only  the  policy  of  Congress,  but  the  rights  of  the  army, 
arising  from  promised  bounties,  must  be  considered. 

In  placing  before  the  reader  the  services  performed  by  Dr. 
Cutler,  and  claiming  for  him  whatever  of  merit  attaches  to 
his  efforts,  it  is  intended  also  to  present  as  fully  as  practicable 
the  services  and  merits  of  associates,  and  to  give  to  contem- 
poraneous circumstances  and  influences  their  full  weight. 

It  will  be  seen  that  Congress  and  the  army  were  the  prin- 
cipal factors ;  that  there  was  a  concert  of  action,  if  not  of 
design  ;  that  Congress  sought  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  oc- 
cupation of  the  western  wilderness,  to  make  "  rough  places 
smooth,  and  the  crooked  places  straight,"  while  the  army,  with 
their  Commander-in-Chief  in  full  support,  sought  to  retrieve 
losses,  heal  wounds,  and  find  repose  by  encountering  new 
risks,  new  hardships,  and  new  dangers,  in  laying  deep  and 
broad  the  foundations  of  Christian  civilization  in  "  ncAv  states  " 
"  westward  of  the  Ohio." 

The  service  performed  by  Dr.  Cutler  was  in  bringing  mto 
harmonious  action  the  lines  of  policy  that  were  mai'ked  out 
by  one  party,  and  cordially  accepted  by  the  other. 

As  the  agent  of  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  placing  in  the  hands  of  an  intelligent  body  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  mainly  composed  of  ofiicers  of  the  army,  the 
first  application,  on  an  efficient  scale,  of  the  land  selling  pol- 
icy, and  at  the  same  time  of  the  governmental  policy  of  Con- 
gress. This  effort  brought  him  in  direct  contact  with  both 
parties.  The  narrative,  mainly  by  liimself  and  his  contempo- 
raries, will  show  the   steps   taken   and  results   accomplished. 

An  important  element  in  the  true  situation  at  that  time  is 
found  in  the  connection  which  the  Commander-in-Chief  had  with 
efforts  to  organize  the  permanent  occupation  of  the  Ohio  valley. 
His  personal  landed  interests  there,  his  efforts  at  colonization 
on  these  lands,  his  earnest  espousal  of  the  petition  of  the  oflB- 


Introduction.  vii 

cers,  his  early  direction  of  their  attention  to  the  Ohio  valley 
as  a  resort  in  case  of  defeat,  and  the  zeal  with  which  he  en- 
tered upon  a  comprehensive  system  of  internal  improvements, 
designed  to  connect  the  valley  and  the  entire  north-west  with 
Virginia  seaports,  are  sufficient  evidences  of  co-operation  to 
justify  the  introduction  of  some  of  his  correspondence  on  the 
subject. 

General  Putnam's  letters  to  Washington  and  to  Fisher 
Ames  disclose  the  true  condition  of  affairs  at  that  time. 

If  the  reader  will  give  careful  attention  to  Washington's 
letter  to  Grovernor  Harrison,  Putnam's  correspondence,  and 
Dr.  Cutler's  Explanation,  etc..  it  will  be  found  that  a  har- 
mony of  views  and  opinions  can  be  traced  through  them  all 
that  would  indicate  a  preconcerted  plan  for  presenting  what 
was  at  that  time  the  true  situation  of  affairs,  as  well  as  the 
schemes  of  improvement  and  colonization  that  commanded 
their  united  attention. 

These  papers,  with  others  of  similar  import,  are  valuable 
contributions  to  history,  and  afford  explanations  for  the  di- 
rection that  Dr.  Cutler  gave  to  his  negotiations  with  Con- 
gress. It  will  be  clearly  seen  that  the  interests  of  Virginia 
were  closely  connected  with  the  plans  of  the  Ohio  Company 
of  Associates,  and,  as  a  result,  harmony  of  action  was  se- 
cured ;  that  the  motives  for  such  harmony  were  strong  enough 
to  influence  legislation  in  matters  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance. 

No  apology  is  required  for  placing  Dr.  Cutler's  journals  so 
fully  before  the  reader ;  with  other  papers,  they  constitute  the 
body  of  the  volume. 

It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  policy  adopted  by  Con- 
gress, in  regard  to  vacant  territory,  or  the  "  back  country," 
was,  in  most  respects,  new  and  experimental. 


viii  Introduction. 

The  system  of  surveys  was  adopted  after  "  long  and  pain- 
ful deliberation."  The  idea  of  making  wild  lands  a  basis  of 
revenue  and  of  public  credit  was  novel.  Neither  the  Colonies 
nor  the  British  government  had  ever  devoted  vacant  territory  to 
that  purpose. 

The  mode  of  settling  was  also  new.  Hitherto,  the  indi- 
vidual adventurer,  either  alone  or  with  a  few  neighbors,  en- 
countered the  dangers  and  liardships  of  pioneer  life.  Out- 
side of  Colonial  or  state  jurisdiction,  there  was  no  law  and  no 
value  to  lands.  Kentucky  was  settled  in  this  way.  It  yielded 
no  revenue,  either  to  the  parent  state  or  nation,  from  sales 
of  lands.  But  Congress  adopted  the  policy  of  "  compact  and 
progressive  settlements,"  with  territorial  government  pro- 
jected over  them  in  advance.  In  this  Avay  a  control  was  es- 
tablished over  the  land  as  property,  and  lawful  jurisdiction 
exercised  over  the  inhabitants. 

It  will  be  found  that  the  views  of  the  Associates  and  of 
Washington  were  in  entire  harmony  Avith  those  of  Congress  in 
these  respects. 

It  was  with  all  these  elements  of  a  new  line  of  landed  and 
territorial  policy,  constituting  a  new  departure,  that  Dr.  Cut- 
ler had  to  deal  in  his  efforts  to  bring  into  practical  use  sys- 
tems that  had  not  been  previously  tried. 

It  will  appear  that  the  policy  of  "  new  states,"  "  distinct 
governments  "  for  the  vacant  territory,  was  announced  before 
the  Peace  of  '83  gave  Congress  the  full  control ;  that  it  was 
under  consideration  of  several  committees  from  1780  to  1787 ; 
that  every  state  except  Georgia  was  represented  on  those 
committees  from  time  to  time ;  that  it  must  have  received 
the  consideration  of  over  twenty  different  members  during 
the  above  interval.  The  system  for  surveys  and  disposing 
of  the  lands  was  under  the  consideration  of  a  grand  com- 
mittee, composed  of  a  member  from  each  state,  and  evidently 


Introduction.  ix 

received  careful  consideration  before  finally  disposed  of,  May 
20,  1785. 

It  is  also  true  that  the  army  gave  early  attention*  to  the 
same  subjects.  The  officers  anticipated  new  states,  and  ex- 
pected that  surveys  of  the  lands  would  be  made  by  the  gov- 
ernment. 

Dr.  Cutler  kept  a  daily  record  of  his  personal  affairs,  be- 
ginning in  the  year  1765,  and  ending  the  year  of  his  death, 
1823.  l^ine  years  are  missing.  Extracts  from  the  years  that 
have  been  preserved  are  given  in  the  volume,  and  constitute 
an  autobiography,  needing  little  comment  to  add  to  its  in- 
terest. 

His  correspondence  while  a  member  of  Congress  presents 
an  interesting  view  of  that  period  of  political  transition 
when  the  authors  and  most  earnest  supporters  of  the  Con- 
stitution were  set  aside  and  only  allowed  to  exert  that  influ- 
ence which  comes  from  an  intelligent,  patriotic,  and  talented 
minority.  Portions  only  of  Dr.  Cutler's  literary  and  scien- 
tific correspondence  have  been  preserved  and  presented  to 
the  reader. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Genealogy — Early    Life — Marriage  —  Engages    in    Commerce  — 

Studies  Divinity — Settles  in  Ipswich   Hamlet 1 

CHAPTER   II. 

Parish    Life  —  Eevoldtionauy    War  —  Chaplain  —  Expedition    to 

Rhode   Island — Studies  and  Phactices  Medicine 38 

CHAPTER   III. 

Diary  from  1780-1785  —  Studies  Botany  —  Establishes  Private 
Boarding  School — American  Acadkmy  Arts  and  Sciences — 
First  and  Second  Journey  to  White    Hills 77 

CHAPTER   IV. 

Policy  of  Congress  in  Regard  to  Vacant  Territory — Reasons 
FOR  THE  Organization  of  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates — Sup- 
port GIVEN  BY  General  Washington  to  the  Plan — Pickering's 
Scheme — Officers'    Petition — Correspondence 119 

CHAPTER  V. 

Extracts  from  Records  ok  Ohio  Company — Articles  of  Agree- 
ment— Letters  to  Major  Sargent  and  Nathan  Dane — Diary, 
1787 178 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Journey  to  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  1787 203 

CHAPTER  VII. 

At  New  York  and  Philadelphia — Letters  to  Hazard  and  Sar- 
gent— Diary  of   1787 253 

CHAPTER  VIIL 

The  Influence  Exerted  by  Dr.  Cutler  in  the  Formation  of  the 
Ordinance  for  the  Government  of  the  Territory  of  the 
United  States  North-west  of  the  River  Ohio,  Passed  July 
13,  1787 335 

(xi) 


xii  Contents. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Letters — Diary  ok  1788 — Lettkr  from  Ge.vekal  Parsons  to  Dr. 
CuTi-ER — Journey  to  the  Muskingum — Rev.  Daniel  Story — 
Letters 374 

CHAPTER  X. 

Letter  from  General  Parsons — Correspondence  of  Putnam  and 
Cutler — Directors'  Instructions  to  Putnam  and  Cutler — 
Letter  TO  Sargent — Putnam's  Letter — Diary,  1790 — Letters — 
Diary,   1701 438 

CHAPTER  XL 

Directors'  Petition  to  Congress — Report  of  Committee — Act 
Conveying  Lands  to  Ohio  Company — Letters  to  Mrs.  Cutler — 
Diary,   1793 470 

CHAPTER  XIL 
The  Scioto  Purchase 494 


-.  *s 


^r>3,\         '1  /V  J 

LIFE  OF  REV.  MANASSEH  CUTLEfe'^rso^ 


CHAPTER  I. 


Gexeai.ogy — Eart,y    Life — Marriage — Engages    ix   Commerce — Studies 
Divinity — Settles  in  Ipswich   Hamlet. 

Among  the  many  Puritans  who  came  to  the  Colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay  in  the  early  years  of  its  settlement  -was  James 
Cutler,  a  young  man  from  Norfolkshire,  England.  Those  who 
thought  for  themselves  and  lived  in  accord  with  their  con- 
victions  of  duty  in  that  time  of  religious  persecution,  were 
obliged,  at  much  sacrifice,  to  leave  friends  and  country,  and 
cross  the  ocean  in  order  to  secure  in  this  ncAv  continent  their 
civil  and  religious  rights.  James  Cutler  was  the  first  of  his 
family  to  come  to  America.  He  married  Anna,  the  sister  of 
Captain  John  Grout's  wife,  a  woman  of  Puritan  faith,  and 
"  of  wonderful  decision,  energy,  and  enterprise."  He  settled 
in  Watertown  in  1634,  where,  having  passed  through  the  nec- 
essary preliminaries,  he  was  admitted  to  citizenship,  and  the 
usual  allotments  of  land  were  assigned  to  him.  He  prospered 
in  his  new  home  and  added  to  his  possessions  by  the  purchase 
of  more  land.  Here  his  first  child,  James,  was  born,  Novem- 
ber 6,  1635.  After  encountering  for  ten  years  the  trials  of 
pioneer  life  in  a  rigorous  climate,  Anna  died,  and  was  buried 
September  30,  164:4.  He  married,  second,  Mary  King,  the 
AvidoAv  of  Thomas  King,  of  Watertown ;  and  sold,  about  1651, 
his  property  there,  and  removed  to  Cambridge  Farms  (Lex- 
ington) ;  and  is  "  said  to  have  built  one  of  the  first  houses 
erected  in  that  place,  the  door-steps  and  cellar  of  which  are 
now  to  be  seen,"  The  spacious  farm  he  occupied  was  recently 
still  in  possession  of  his  descendants.  Here  he  lost  his  sec- 
ond wife,  and   in  1662  married  Phebe  Page,  daughter  of  John 

(1) 


2  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Page,  and  the  niece  of  William  Paine,  a  wealthy  iron  merchant 
of  Boston,  who  mentioned  her  in  his  will. 

James  Cutler  made  his  will  November  24,  1684,  bequeath- 
ing property  to  each  of  his  twelve  children,  and  also  to  two 
step-daughters.  He  died  at  Cambridge  Farms,  May  17, 1694, 
aged  88  years.  His  sons,  James,  Thomas,  John,  and  Samuel, 
were  useful  and  influential  men.  His  daughter  Hannah  mar- 
ried  John  Winter,  Jr.;  Mary  married  John  Collar  ;  Elizabeth 
married  John  Parmenter,  third,  of  Sudbury  ;  Sarah  married 
Thomas  Waite,  of  Cambridge  Farms ;  Joanna  married  Philip 
Russel. 

James  Cutler,  the  eldest  son  of  James  and  Anna,  born  in 
Watertown,  November  6,  1635,  married  June  15,  1665,  Lydia 
(Moore)  AVright,  daughter  of  John  Moore,  of  Sudbury,  and 
the  widow  of  Samuel  Wright  before  she  was  twenty  years  old. 
She  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  and  died  at  Sudbury,  the  widow 
of  James  Cutler,  November  23,  1723.  He  served  in  the 
Indian  war  as  a  soldier  under  Captain  Henchman,  and,  in 
common  with  others,  endured  great  hardships  while  engaged 
in  the  campaigns  against  King  Philip,  in  1675  and  1676.  He 
resided  in  Lexington,  where  he  made  his  will,  July  28th,  and 
died  July  30,  1685,  in  the  50th  year  of  his  age.  His  widow, 
Lydia  Cutler,  and  her  brother,  Benjamin  Moore,  were  the  ex- 
ecutors of  his  will,  proved  October  8,  1685.  He  had  sons — 
James,  Samuel,  Joseph,  John,  and  Thomas  ;  and  daughters, 
Ann  and  Elizabeth. 

John  Cutler,  fourth  son  of  James  and  Lydia,  born  April  14, 
1675,  was  ten  years  old  when  his  father  died.  He  married, 
February  6,  1700,  Hannah  Snow,  daughter  of  John  Snow,  of 
Woburn.  She  was  received  into  the  church  at  Lexington 
from  the  church  of  Woburn,  July  5,  1702;  and  he  united  with 
the  church  in  full  communion  February  13,  1704.  He  re- 
moved with  his  fcimily  from  Lexington,  where  eight  of  his 
eleven  children  Avere  baptized,  to  Killingly,  Connecticut,  about 
1713.  The  country  was  then  new.  He  owned  a  large  tract 
of  land  east  of  the  Quinebaug  River,  and  a  saw-mill  on  Five 
Mile  River.  He  was  an  upright  and  pious  man.  He  died  in 
1729,  at  the  age  of  54  years. 

On  the  ancient  records  of  Killingly  there  is  a  deed  made  by 


Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler.  3 

John  Cutler  to  his  chiklren,  in  which  certain  lands  are  con- 
veyed, in  consideration  of  his  love  and  affection,  to  his  sons, 
Seth,  Timothy,  and  Uriah,  "  on  condition  that  Seth  and  Tim- 
othy do  bear  their  part  with  Hezekiah  in  maintaining  their 
uncle,  Samuel,  and  pay  to  my  two  daughters,  Mary  and  Jemima, 
£5  each ;  and  Uriah  to  pay  £5  to  each  of  his  sisters  when  he 
comes  of  age ;  Hezekiah  to  maintain  his  natural  mother, 
Hannah,  with  meat,  drink,  and  apparel  in  sickness  and  in 
health,  and  provide  for  the  bringing  up  of  the  younger  chil- 
dren.'"' To  his  wife,  Hannah,  he  gives  :  "All  and  singular  my 
household  goods,  as  if  mentioned  in  particular."  To  daughter, 
Hannah  Heath,  land  bought  of  John  Mighill  by  advice  of  James 
and  Joseph  Leavens,  and  also  gives  land  to  daughters,  Abigail, 
Patience,  and  Kezia,  September  8,  1727.  In  another  legal 
paper  John  Cutler  divides  his  saw-mill  property  on  Five  Mile 
River,  equally,  between  Seth,  Timothy,  and  Hezekiah,  and 
gives  one  yoke  of  oxen  to  Seth  and  Timothy.  To  each  of  his 
sons  he  gives  176  acres  of  land,  and  to  Hezekiah,  provided  he 
takes  care  of  the  family,  and  pays  to  his  sisters  £5  each,  he 
gives,  in  addition,  fifty  acres  and  the  buildings  thereon. 

Hezekiah,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  came  into  possession 
of  the  fertile  acres  of  the  homestead  on  the  eastern  border  of 
Killingly.  The  line  dividing  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island 
at  that  time  passed  directly  through  the  house.  Here  his 
mother  and  sisters  resided  with  him.  His  brother  Seth  set- 
tled at  Windham,  Connecticut,  and  left  seven  daughters  ;  Tim- 
othy died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two ;  his  only  son.  Captain 
Benoni  Cutler,  served  with  honor  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
after  which  he  removed  to  Vermont,  From  him  descended 
Rev.  Calvin  Cutler,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Carrol  Cutler,  late  President 
of  the  Western  Reserve  College,  and  of  Adelbert  College, 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  youngest  brother,  Uriah,  went  to  New 
Jersey  and  settled  near  Morristown.  General  Joseph  Cutler 
and  Hon.  Augustus  W.  Cutler  are  among  his  descendants. 

Hezekiah  Cutler  faithfully  performed  the  duties  his  father 
had  required,  and  early  developed  those  fine  traits  of  character 
which  distinguished  him  through  his  long  life.  He  was  re- 
ceived to  the  full  communion  of  the  church  in  Killingly 
February  25,  1733 ;  and  married,  December  5,  1734,  Susanna 


4  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

Clark.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Hanniel  Clark,  one  of  the 
early  surveyors  of  Windham  County,  Connecticut,  who,  in 
1733,  was  chosen  deacon  of  the  first  church  in  Killingly.  She 
united  with  the  church  June  27, 1736,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
"  a  lady  of  great  personal  beauty  and  strength  of  mind,  with 
an  education  in  advance  of  her  time."  * 

The  children  of  Hezekiah  and  Susanna  Cutler  were  :  1st. 
Mehetabel,  born  April  7,  1737,  baptized  April  10,  1737; 
married,  October  10,  1758,  Simeon  Lee ;  died  January  1, 
1790,  leaving  an  only  daughter.  2d.  Hannah,  baptized  De- 
cember 24,  1738,  died  young.  3d.  Manasseh,  Rev.  LL.D., 
the  subject  of  this  memoir,  born  May  13,  1742,  and  baptized 
at  Thompson,  May  30,  1742,  by  Rev.  Marston  Cabot.  4th. 
Ephraim,  born  November  13,  1744,  baptized  by  Rev.  M. 
Cabot,  November  18,  1744.  5th.  Hannah,  born  December  5, 
1747  ;  died  December  25,  1753.  Only  the  eldest  daughter 
and  the  sons  arrived  at  maturity ;  the  two  Hannahs,  named  to 
commemorate  his  beloved  mother,  died  in  early  childhood. 

Those  families  who  lived  near  the  boundary  of  Killingly 
were  for  a  time  included  in  the  Thompson  parish,  an  arrange- 
ment which  proved  to  be  so  inconvenient  that  a  petition  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Colonial  Government  for  leave  to  attend  worship 
at  the  nearer  and  more  accessible  church  in  Killinglv.  "  In 
the  year  1746,  Joseph  Cady,  Hezekiah  Cutler,  Thomas  Wilson, 
Joseph  Richards,  Samuel  Bloss,  and  other  leading  citizens  in- 
cluded in  Thompson  Parish,  now  represented  to  the  Assembly 
that  the  worship  of  God  was  regularly  attended  at  a  convenient 
Meeting  House,  which  would  be  much  less  trouble  to  them  than 
to  go  to  Thompson,  where  the  distance  was  so  great,  and  the 
roads  so  bad,  that  a  great  part  of  holy  time  must  be  spent  in 
very  servile  labor  to  man  and  beast ;  and  at  some  seasons  it 
was  impossible  for  themselves  and  families  to  be  conveyed 
there,  and  begged  to  be  transferred  to  Killingly  ;  which  was 
granted."  f 

Hezekiah  Cutler  removed,  later,  to  the  vicinity  of  the 
Meeting  House  on  Killingly  Hill,  and  was  prominent  in  town 


*  Larned's  Hist.  Windham  Co.,  Conn.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  529. 
fHist.  Windham  Co.,  Vol.  1.,  p.  .i3I. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  5 

and  church  affairs.  He  is  described  as  a  man  who  had  a  com- 
manding influence  with  those  around  him,  dignified  in  his 
appearance  and  manners,  respected  for  his  wise  and  prudent 
counsel  and  his  great  firmness  of  character.  He  was  regarded 
as  a  truly  benevolent  and  Christian  man,  a  peacemaker  among 
his  neighbors,  a  friend  to  the  poor,  and  an  intelligent,  public- 
spirited  citizen. 

On  the  Killingly  farm,  under  the  guiding  influence  of  his 
father,  and  the  loving,  watchful  care  of  a  mother  who  devoted 
herself  to  the  improvement  of  her  children,  Manasseh  Cutler 
grew  up  with  such  habits  and  principles  as  are  calculated  to 
form  a  useful  and  worthy  character.  The  labors  of  the  farm, 
in  which  he  participated,  gave  to  him  a  very  fine  physical  devel- 
opment and  valuable  habits  of  industry.  His  early  practical 
knowledge  led,  in  after  life,  to  efl'orts  for  the  improvement  of 
the  methods  then  practiced  in  agriculture,  and  accounts  for 
his  marked  success  as  a  farmer  and  horticulturist.  This  rural 
life  gave  him  a  liking  for  skating,  fishing,  gunning,  and  other 
field  diversions,  which  he  had  abundant  opportunity  to  enjoy  ; 
and  doubtless  fostered  an  inherent  love  of  nature  which  per- 
meated his  Avhole  being,  influencing  his  studies,  and  leading 
him  to  devote  much  time  and  thought  to  the  pursuit  of  the 
diff'erent  branches  of  natural  history. 

In  youth,  he  had  the  advantage  of  such  schools  as  the 
country  then  aff'orded,  but  as  he  approached  manhood  he 
manifested  an  earnest  desire  for  a  more  liberal  and  thorough 
education.  In  the  absence  of  academies,  he  was  placed  under 
the  care  and  instruction  of  the  Rev.  Aaron  Brown,  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Killingly,  to  be  prepared  for  college.  In  these 
studies  he  was  associated  with  Joseph  Howe,  a  step-son  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Brown  and  a  brilliant  scholar,  with  whom  he  entered 
Yale  College  in  1761.  A  local  historian*  states,  that  about 
this  time  an  unusually  large  number  of  young  men  in  Wind- 
ham County  were  pursuing  their  studies  at  Yale,  preparing 
themselves  for  professional  life.  At  one  time,  eleven  from  Pom- 
fret  and  three  from  Killingly  were  contemporary  collegiates. 

*Larned's  History  of  Windham  Co.,  Conn.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  527;  Vol.  II., 
pp.  90,91. 


6  Life  of  Rev.  3Icmasseh  Cutler. 

There  were  then  no  rapid  and  easy  means  of  transit,  and  they 
were  accustomed  to  ride  to  New  Haven  in  company,  on  horse- 
back, taking  with  them  a  young  companion  to  bring  back  the 
string  of  horses.  They  must  have  formed  an  interesting 
cavalcade.  The  three  students  from  Killingly  were  Joseph 
Howe,  Manasseh  Cutler,  and  Amasa  Larned ;  the  latter,  a  son 
of  Deacon  Ebenezer  Larned,  was  also  prepared  for  college  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  and  entered  Yale  a  year  later  than  his  com- 
panions. "  He  was  a  gifted  young  man,  who,  after  studying 
and  serving  in  the  ministry,  turned  his  attention  to  the  law, 
and  entered  political  life,  acquiring  distinction  in  state  and 
national  councils." 

Howe  and  Cutler  graduated  at  Yale,  1765.  The  historian 
before  referred  to  says  of  them :  "  Howe  was  the  first  scholar 
in  a  class  that  had  its  full  share  of  distinguished  names. 
After  teaching  with  great  success  at  Hartford  and  as  a  tutor 
at  Yale,  where  his  literary  accomplishments,  especially  his  re- 
markable powers  of  elocution,  not  less  than  his  fine  social  and 
moral  qualities,  made  him  a  general  favorite."  He  was  or- 
dained. May  19,  1773,  over  the  New  South  Church,  in  Boston, 
and  died  before  he  reached  his  thirtieth  year,  August  25, 1776. 

''  Cutler  was  also  distinguished  for  diligence  and  proficiency, 
and  graduated  with  high  honor  from  college  to  attain  distinc- 
tion in  various  departments.  After  practicing  law  for  a  time 
in  Edgartown,  he  studied  theology,  and  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  church  at  Ipswich  Hamlet,  Massachusetts,  September 
11,  1771.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual  breadth  and  solidity  of 
character  ;  and  while  performing  his  pastoral  duties  with  great 
fidelity  and  acceptance,  he  gave  much  time  and  thought  to 
political  and  scientific  investigations,  fitting  him  to  bear  a 
most  prominent  and  useful  part  in  the  development  of  the 
future  republic." 

Of  the  years  passed  in  Yale  College  we  have  few  details. 
In  answer  to  a  letter  of  inquiry,  Prof.  J.  L.  Kingsley  wrote 
from  New  Haven,  June  13,  1839  :  "  In  President  Stiles'  Diary 
there  is  an  entry,  July  2,  1787,  from  which  it  appears  that 
Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler  was  in  town  that  day  on  his  way  to 
Philadelphia,  to  collect  botanical  information.  This  is  the 
amount  of  some  half  dozen  lines.     Among  the  letters  remain- 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  7 

ing  here  received  by  Dr.  Stiles  from  his  correspondents  there 
is  none,  I  believe,  from  Dr.  Cutler. 

"As  to  the  college  life  of  Dr.  Cutler,  there  is  no  record, 
except  that  his  Bachelor's  and  Master's  degrees  were  voted  in 
the  usual  manner.  The  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws 
Avas  conferred  en  him  in  September,  1789,  but  the  diploma 
was  not  issued  till  1791.  There  is  on  record  a  copy  of  the 
diploma,  but  you  probably  have  the  original.  Dr.  Cutler,  I 
believe,  was  not  in  Congress  till  the  commencement  of  the 
present  century.  President  Stiles  died  in  1795.  There  is  no 
letter  on  file  from  Dr.  Cutler  acknowledging  his  diploma." 

The  Hon.  Allen  Dodge,  of  Hamilton,  wrote,  several  years 
since  :  "  I  have  before  me  a  closely  written  MS.,  occupying 
more  than  a  quire  of  foolscap  paper,  entitled,  '  Manasseh  Cut- 
ler, his  Book  of  Astronomical  Recreations,  Performed  at  Yale 
College,  N.  Haven,  A.  d.  1763,'  The  title  page  also  contains 
an  extract  of  sixteen  lines  from  Virgil,  commencing, 

'  Felix,  qui  potuit  rerum  cognoscei-e  causas,' 

which  indeed  seems  to  have  been  the  key  to  his  character 
throughout  his  long  and  useful  life.  The  MS,  is  filled  with 
astronomical  calculations,  such  as  phenomena  of  solar  eclipses, 
theory  of  comets,  etc.  One  calculation  is  entitled,  'An  Eclipse 
of  the  Sun  visible  at  Yale  College,  in  New  Haven,  Wednesday, 
24th  of  June,  A,  d,  1778,  Delineated  at  Yale  College,  March 
y*^  24th,  1763,'  There  are  tables  of  figures,  diagrams  and 
calculations  in  the  book,  altogether  beyond  my  knowledge,  or 
understanding ;  they  remain  as  a  monument  of  the  early 
training  of  this  disciple  of  science,  and  prophetic  of  his  future 
attainments  and  distinction.  It  is  deposited  with  other  of 
his  MSS.,  in  the  Archives  of  the  Essex  Institute  in   Salem." 

With  these  items  we  leave  this  important  period  of  Dr. 
Cutler's  life.  It  is  certain  that  the  methods  and  habits  of 
study  then  acquired  were  never  lost,  but  resulted  in  those  re- 
searches in  astronomy,  meteorology,  and  botany,  and  that 
varied  culture  for  which  he  was  distinguished. 

Many  valuable  manuscripts  were  destroyed  by  a  fire  which 
unfortunately  occurred  in  his  study  in  1812 ;  and  others,  after 
his  death,  were  scattered  here  and  there,  and  can  not  be  re- 


8  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

claimed.  Among  the  papers  in  the  possession  of  his  family 
are  several  journals  and  interleaved  almanacs  ;  the  earliest  of 
these  is  a  daily  journal,  written  on  sheets  of  paper  slightly 
stitched  together,  many  of  which  are  missing  or  mutilated, 
and  that  appears  to  have  been  rescued  from  the  fire.  The 
first  date  on  the  remaining  portion  is  November,  1765,  some 
months  after  he  graduated.  Much  of  it  consists  of  mere 
memoranda  of  personal,  and  often  trivial  affairs,  but  is  inter- 
esting as  indicating  his  aspirations  and  habits  at  this  time. 
The  writer,  Avhile  eminently  social,  was  a  close  observer, 
studious  and  methodical,  and  now  that  more  than  a  century 
intervenes,  we  enjoy  "  the  backward  look''  which  he  affords 
us  in  glimpses  of  colonial  life  and  revolutionary  times. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-three,  soon  after  he  left  college,  Mr. 
Cutler  engaged  in  teaching  school  at  Dedham,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  was  introduced  to  a  very  pleasant  circle,  among 
w^hom  were  several  young  men  near  his  own  age  who  had  re- 
cently completed  their  education,  or  were  still  pursuing  their 
studies  at  Harvard.  Of  the  number  were  the  sons  of  Dr. 
Nathaniel  Ames,  "  the  celebrated  almanac  maker,  who  pub- 
lished forty  almanacs  in  as  many  years."  His  son,  Dr.  Na- 
thaniel Ames,  graduated  at  Ha:rvard  College  in  1761,  and  had 
taken  the  place  of  his  father,  lately  deceased,  as  physician  in 
Dedham.  Mr.  Seth  Ames,  another  son,  graduated  in  1764, 
also  studied  medicine,  and  in  the  Revolutionary  War  was  sur- 
geon to  an  American  regiment.  The  Hon.  Fisher  Ames,  the 
distinguished  orator  and  statesman,  w^as  a  younger  son,  and 
graduated  later.  Mr.  Benjamin  Balch,  son  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Balch,  of  Dedham,  graduated  in  1763,  and  served  as  a  chap- 
lain in  the  army  and  navy  during  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Na- 
thaniel Fisher,  a  classmate  of  Mr.  Balch,  went  to  England, 
was  ordained  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  returned,  and  after  the 
war  was  inducted  rector  of  St.  Peter's,  Salem.  Mr.  Joshua 
Fisher,  graduated  in  1766,  afterward  a  physician  in  Ipswich 
and  Beverly,  noted  for  his  patriotism  and  disinterested  benevo- 
lence. These,  with  Dr.  Jerauld,  Messrs.  West,  Battelle,  Deane, 
Adams,  and  others  of  like  culture,  were  Mr.  Cutler's  associates. 
He  notices  in  his  journal  the  pleasant  courtesies  extended  to 
him ;  and,  among  those  to  whom  he  was  indebted,  he  mentions 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  9 

the  names  of  Bacon,  Morse,  Dexter,  Everett,  Sumner,  Ellis, 
Gay,  Haven,  etc.  Many  of  his  Dedham  acquaintances  be- 
came his  life-long  friends. 

At  the  time  when  we  begin  our  extracts  from  his  private 
journal  Mr.  Cutler  was  teaching  in  Dedham.  Passing  over 
the  first  three  weeks  of  this  fragmentary  record,  we  come  to 
that  of  December  24, 1765,  which  introduces  us  to  the  amiable 
and  attractive  lady,  who  afterward  became  his  wife,  and  was 
for  fifty  years  his  beloved  and  faithful  companion. 

Dec.  24,  Tuesday.  Set  out  for  Boston  in  the  carriage 
with  Miss  Polly  Balch ;  very  cold.  Spent  the  evening  at 
Captain  Hart's.  Lodged  at  Mr.  Williams'.  It  being  Christ- 
mas eve  the  bells  in  Christ  Church  were  rung,  chimed,  played 
tunes,  etc.  Christ  Church  is  a  large  brick  building,  situated 
at  the  north  end,  and  is  the  first  church  founded  in  the  town. 

Dec.  25,  Wed.  Christmas.  Went  to  church  at  King's 
Chapel,  where  was  a  very  gay  and  brilliant  assembly.  Sev- 
eral intervals,  in  reading  service,  made  for  singing  an- 
thems, which  were  performed  extremely  well.  Service  was 
read  by  Parson  Caner,  and  a  sermon  preached,  or  rather  a 
harangue  pronounced  by  Parson  Trouback.  After  the  ser- 
mon a  collection  was  made  for  the  poor.  Then  the  sacrament 
was  administered  (which  I  did  not  tarry  to  see).  Dined  at 
Mr.  Williams'.  A  very  handsome  dinner.  In  the  afternoon 
service  was  read,  and  anthems  sung,  but  no  sermon.  This 
church  is  built  of  stone,  is  very  beautifully  adorned  Avith  carved 
pillars,  several  images,  etc.  Here  is  a  very  good  set  of  or- 
gans, but  no  bells,  as  the  steeple  is  not  erected.  This  is  the 
most  grand  church  in  town,  where  His  Excellency  is  obliged  to 
attend.  This  evening  we  came  to  Roxbury  and  spent  it  very 
agreeably  at  Mr.  Increase  Sumner's,  and  lodged  at  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Sumner's. 

Dec.  26,  Thurs.  This  morning  began  to  snow.  At  10 
o'clock  we  set  out  for  the  city  of  Tiot  (Indian  name  of 
Dedham),  and  came  to  an  anchor  at  Dr.  Ames',  where  we 
dined,  drank  tea,  and  spent  a  very  agreeable  evening.  We 
came  home  at  10  o'clock.  As  it  had  cleared  up,  and  was  a 
bright  moonlight  night,  and  not  cold,  we  had  a  very  pleasant 
ride.     So  much  for  Christmas. 


10  L^f^  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

[Mr.  Cutler  was  at  this  time  particularly  interested  in 
astronomy,  and  frequently  enters  in  his  journal  observations 
on  the  celestial  bodies,  and  notes  their  various  phenomena.] 

Jan.  3,  1766,  Fri.  Very  cold,  though  clear.  Mr.  Dean  and 
I  viewed  Jupiter's  moons  in  a  prospective  glass.  Three  of 
them  visible,  but  very  dim.  Their  positions  were  thus  : 
N.  ®  o  ©  d  E. 

Jan.  4,  Sat.  Extremely  cold.  No  wood  at  the  school-house. 
Studied  Dr.  Bates  on  the  Immortality  of  the  Soul. 

Jan.  9,  Thurs.  Spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Fisher's.  Viewed 
Jupiter.     Four  moons  Avere  visible  in  this  position  : 

Jan.  17,  Fri.  Mr.  Balch's  lecture.  Mr.  Haven  preached. 
Mr.  Prentice,  of  Cambridge,  and  Mr.  Adams,  of  Medfield, 
here.     Concluded  my  first  three  months  of  keeping  school. 

Ja7i.  IS,  Sat.  Delineated  Connecticut  Hall.  In  the  evening 
read  the  History  of  Popery. 

Jan.  19,  Sunday.  Sacrament  administered.  Mr.  Balch 
preached  a  very  good  .sermon  on  Charity;  perhaps  very  well 
timed. 

Jan.  20,  3Io7i.  Began  school  again.  Dined  at  Mr.  Bacon's. 
Spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Gay's.    A^ery  handsomely  entertained. 

Jan.  23,  Thurs.  Very  clear.  Dined  at  Mr.  John  Morse's. 
Spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  N.  Dean's.  The  air  very  clear  and 
serene.  This  morning  about  6  o'clock  considerable  of  a  shock 
of  an  earthquake  was  felt  in  Boston,  but  was  attended  by  no 
perceptible  noise. 

Ja7i.  24,  Fri.  This  evening  concluded  the  History  of  the 
Fair  Greek.  But  an  ordinary  novel.  Her  character,  though, 
very  remarkable. 

Jan.  26,  Lord's  Bay.  An  extraordinary  pleasant  morning, 
serene  and  warm.  Mr.  Balch  preached.  At  3  o'clock  p.  m.  saw 
Venus  very  plain  with  my  naked  eye.  At  7  o'clock  this  even- 
ing the  moon  was  so  near  Jupiter  that  they  could  be  both 
seen  through  a  three  feet  prospect  glass  at  the  same  time. 
By  their  situation  it  appeared  that  the  moon  had  made  a 
transit  over  Jupiter  before  they  Avere  above  the  horizon. 

Jan.  29,  Wed.  Still  pleasant.  Three  of  Jupiter's  moons 
appeared  plain  this  evening,  thus  :  gj  «  ^  a 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ia7iasseh  Cutler.  11 

Feb.  1,  Sat.  Much  colder.  Hunting  with  Mr.  Dean.  In 
the  evening  read  Mr.  Harrison's  sermons  on  Christ's  Ascension. 
Very  fine. 

Feb.  2,  Lord's  Day.  This  morning  about  7  o'clock  was 
heard  an  uncommon  noise.  I  was  asleep,  but  it  was  so  loud 
and  continued  so  long  that  I  awoke  and  heard  the  latter  part 
very  plainly.  It  was  heard  by  most  of  the  neighbors,  who 
imagined  it  was  in  the  air,  and  as  loud  as  a  large  number  of 
cannon  fired  at  the  same  time.  It  is  reported  that  some  peo- 
ple saw  a  large  meteor  break  in  the  air.  If  so,  it  will  be 
worth  the  notice  of  the  curious.  In  the  morning  the  air  was 
very  clear,  but  soon  an  unusual  vapor  seemed  to  cover  the 
southern  part  of  the  hemisphere,  which  occasioned  the  sun  to 
shine  very  red,  though  it  did  not  appear  in  the  least  smoky. 
There  seemed  to  be  something  so  remarkable  in  the  face  of 
the  heavens  that  I  viewed  the  sun  at  2  o'clock  in  my  glass,  but 
could  see  nothing  uncommon.  Though  no  spot  appeared  on 
the  sun's  disk  the  air  was  very  chilly  and  cold. 

Feb.  3,  Mon.  Much  warmer,  spring-like  weather.  Be- 
gan to  read  the  History  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  written  by  a 
gentleman  of  the  Middle  Temple,  author  of  the  Life  of  Peter 
the  Great,  Emperor  of  Russia. 

Feb.  4,  Tues.  Very  pleasant.  Walked  with  Mr.  Balch, 
after  school,  to  Governor  Little's  Palace,  Mr.  N.  Everett's,  etc. 

Feb.  14,  Fri.  At  three  o'clock  this  afternoon  Prudence  Crane, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Crane,  about  8  years  of  age,  departed 
this  life.  She  was  one  of  my  scholars,  a  very  forward  child? 
and  much  lamented  by  her  mates.  At  Esquire  Sumner's  and 
Mr.  Morse's  in  the  evening. 

Feb.  1,  3Ion.  At  1  o'clock  Prudence  Crane  was  buried. 
Dismissed  my  school  in  the  afternoon.  Received  an  order  on 
Mr.  Isaac  Whitney. 

Feb.  18,  Tues.  Went  to  the  Furnace  in  Stoughton  in  the 
chaise  with  Mr.  Asa  Everett.  Dined  at  N.  Morse's.  The 
Furnace  is  a  large  building,  and  has  within  a  platform, 
twenty  feet  square,  built  with  solid  stone  nineteen  feet  high. 
In  the  midst  of  this  is  a  tunnel  in  the  form  of  an  egg,  small 
at  the  top,  bulging  at  the  midst,  and  brought  almost  to  a  point 
at  the  bottom.     This  contains  the  ore,  coal,  shells,  etc.,  and  is 


12        .  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

about  eight  feet  in  diameter  in  the  bulge.  The  top  of  the  tun- 
nel is  built  of  bricks,  and  the  rest  of  grindstone.  At  the  bot- 
tom are  two  large  arches  built  in  the  platform ;  the  one 
for  the  bellows,  to  come  to  the  bottom  of  the  tunnel,  Avhich 
are  very  large  and  keep  constantly  blowing  the  whole  blast ; 
the  other  to  come  at  the  metal  which  runs  into  a  reservoir  at 
the  bottom  of  the  tunnel,  where  it  is  ladled  out.  It  appears 
like  liquid  fire.  A  potash  kettle  had  just  been  cast,  so  that 
we  saw  only  some  cart-boxes  cast  while  we  were  there.  Re- 
turned in  the  evening  by  Esquire  Sumner's.  A  cold,  melan- 
choly ride. 

Feb.  22,  Sat.  Hunted  in  Purgatory  with  Mr.  Dean  and  Mr. 
Penniman  this  afternoon,  but  found  nothing.  This  evening 
the  moon  had  a  tx-ansit  over  Jupiter.  I  viewed  her  for  half  an 
hour  before  she  obscured  Jupiter,  and  could  discern  the  Avhole 
body  of  the  moon,  Jupiter,  and  two  of  his  moons,  at  the  same 
time,  situated  thus  :   «  ®  a  ©. 

3Iar.  3,  3Ion.  Town  meeting.  This  day  allowed  for  school- 
masters to  go  to  the  meeting.  Mr.  Dean  was  kind  enough  to 
invite  me  to  ride  with  him  in  the  chaise  to  Dedham.  Spent  a 
very  agreeable  afternoon  with  Dr.  Ames,  Seth  Ames,  and  N. 
Fisher.  We  formed  ourselves  into  a  Thursday-night  Club ; 
the  gentlemen  in  the  club  co  be  Dr.  Ames,  Seth  Ames,  Fisher, 
West,  Dr.  Jerauld,  and  myself;  to  meet  Thursday  night  of 
next  week  at  Deacon  Ellis'  at  Clapboard  Trees. 

[The  West  parish  at  Dedham  was  designated  by  the  name 
of  Clapboard  Trees,  and  Deacon  Ellis'  Tavern,  where  the 
club  was  to  meet,  was  located  there.  Doubtless  political,  as 
well  as  literary  and  scientific  topics,  furnished  subjects  for 
discussion.] 

Mar.  7,  Fri.  Evening  clear.  Viewed  Jupiter.  All  his 
moons  appeared  clear,  thus:   *  ^  o  ®  »• 

Mar.  21.  A  grand  levee  at  Deacon  Ellis'.  Present :  Dr. 
Ames,  Dr.  Jerauld,  his  Honor,  etc.  A  very  pleasant  even- 
ing.    Adjourned  to  next  week. 

3Iar.  28,  Fri.  A  second  grand  levee  at  Ellis'  Inn.  Pres- 
ent:  Dr.  Ames,  Mr.  Seth  Ames,  Dr.  Jerauld,  Mr.  Nath'l 
Fisher,  Mr.  Battelle,  and  myself.  In  the  first  place  we  agreed 
to  put   ourselves   under  proper  regulations — that  there  should 


^ 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  13 

be  a  President  appointed,  to  act  as  Moderator,  to  propose  all 
matters   to   the   club,  etc.;  that  there  should   be   a   Scribe  to 
record  the  transactions  of  each  meeting,  and  that  we  should 
be  knoAvn  and  distinguished  by  some  appropriate  appellation. 
I  had  the  honor  to  be   appointed  their  President,  Dr.  Ames 
was  appointed  Scribe.     Resolved,  that  we  should  be  known  as 
the  Honorable  Free  Brothers'  Club.     Several  regulations  Avere 
then    considered    respecting    our    entertainments,    etc.,    after 
which  we  spent  a  most  agreeable  social  evening.     Every  mem- 
ber enjoyed    the   conversation  without   restraint,  while  their 
hearts   glowed  with   fraternal  affection,  mutually  wishing  to 
each  la'sting  happiness  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  rights  and- 
liberties  that  are  inherent  privileges  of  the  ti'ue  born  sons  of 
freedom.     At  9   o'clock,  when  we  had  in  a  frugal  manner  en- 
tertained   ourselves — with    no    kind    of  spirits    but  our  own 
country    produce,   viz.,  metheglin — the    President    adjourned 
till  6  o'clock  next  Friday  evening,  at  the  same  place.     Absent 
from  necessity :  Rev.  D.  West  and  Mr.  Thomas  Adams. 

April  1,  1766.  Concluded  my  school — between  ninety  and 
one  hundred  scholars.  Bade  them  farewell,  with  some  coun- 
sels, etc.  In  the  afternoon  only  spelled,  and  concluded  with 
catechising  them. 

Apr.  2.  Studied ;  read  Trapp  on  Popery,  Mr.  Edwards' 
Life,  etc. 

Apr.  4.  At  6  o'clock  the  Free  Brothers'  Club  convened 
at  Mr.  Ellis'.  All  the  members  present  except  Mr.  Fisher.  > 
Present  besides  the  members  :  Mr.  Townshend,  and  Mr.  West, 
student  at  college.  Some  further  regulations  were  considered. 
Every  mind  was  impressed  with  a  lively  sense  of  the  pleas- 
ures and  advantages  arising  from  our  fraternity.  The  open- 
ing rose  breathes  sweetness  from  its  own  nature,  and  the  gen- 
tle clouds  drop  upon  the  earth,  producing  fruits,  herbage,  and 
flowers;  so  this  society,  formed  and  constituted  to  instill  gen- 
erous and  catholic  sentiments,  and  promote  the  edification  and 
prosperity  of  all  it  should  patronize,  distilled  tranquillity  and 
happiness  on  all  present.  At  9  o'clock,  adjourned  till  Friday  '^ 
next,  at  3  o'clock. 

Apr.  7,  Mon.     Mr.  Edward   Bullard   informed   me  he  saw  - 
a  comet  in   the  west  on  Friday  and   Saturday  evenings  last.  \ 


14  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Rainy  this  evening,  which  disappointed  my  seeing  the  comet. 
Read  a  system  of  morality  taken  from  an  Indian  manuscript, 
written  by  an  ancient  Brahmin,  near  China. 

A^yr.  9,  Wed.  Dined  with  Mr.  Thomas  Adams  at  Medfield. 
Dr.  Jerauhl,  Mr.  Adams,  and  I  drank  tea  at  Rev.  Mr.  Towns- 
hend's.  In  the  evening  a  singing  meeting  in  the  school-house  ; 
sang  well.  Medfield,  twenty  miles  from  Boston,  is  a  small 
town  about  four  miles  square.  The  land  is  level  and  well  cul- 
tivated, and  tolerably  thickly  inhabited,  and  the  people  are 
generally  very  good  livers.  Their  Meeting  House  is  large, 
though  it  was  built  sixty  years  ago. 

Ai?r.  10.  Spent  the  morning  in  viewing  objects  in  t)he  mi- 
croscope. We  could  see  that  a  hair  has  a  path  in  the  middle, 
by  which  moisture  is  conveyed  from  the  nutritive  vessels  to 
the  extremity  of  the  hair.  Fur  is  full  of  joints,  which  oc- 
casions its  softness.  Came  home  after  breakfast  by  Wrent- 
ham  and  Walpole.  Received  an  account  of  the  meteor  of  the 
2d  of  February  from  Miss  Boyden.  Read  the  Universal  Spec- 
tator. Just  before  the  closing  in  of  daylight  I  discovered  the 
comet  of  which  I  had  heard.  It  was  a  little  to  the  N.  of  the 
Sun's  apparent  path,  and  I  found  by  a  common  quadrant  that 
it  was  about  23^^  N.  W.  of  the  Bat's  eye.  The  Moon  was  then 
about  10°  to  the  S.  W.  of  the  comet,  being  the  second  day 
after  its  conjunction.  Its  train  or  tail  was  very  long,  though 
considerably  dull.  It  appears  to  extend  one  foot  and  a  half 
from  the  nucleus  directly  toward  the  zenith.  Its  nucleus  ap- 
peared pale,  much  larger,  though  not  so  bright,  as  any  of  the 
fixed  stars.  It  set  8  hours,  25  min.  Its  tail  appeared  after 
the  nucleus  was  below  the  horizon. 

April  11,  Fri.  Mr.  Balch's  lecture.  Mr.  Haven,  Mr. 
Ward,  Mr.  Townshend,  and  Mr.  Adams  dined.  Mr.  Towns- 
hend  preached  a  very  ingenious  sermon.  After  lecture,  the 
singers  came  into  Mr.  Balch's,  and  sang  very  well.  At  3 
o'clock  this  afternoon,  the  Free  Brothers  convened  at  the 
usual  place.  Present:  Dr.  Ames,  Mr.  West,  Mr.  Fisher,  Mr. 
Battelle,  Dr.  Jerauld,  Mr.  Adams,  and  myself.  Free  Brothers 
absent :  Mr.  Ames.  Likewise  present,  Mr.  Haven  and  Mr. 
Ward.  The  latter  was  admitted  as  a  member.  The  peculiar 
and  real  advantages  of  the  society  were  sensibly  enjoyed  by 


Life  of  Rev.  3fana8seh  Cutler.  15 

each  member.  At  9  o'clock,  adjourned  till  the  first  Wednes- 
day in  May,  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Adams,  in  Medfield,  at 
3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  Free  Brothers  will  again 
associate. 

[Mr.  Cutler  left  Dedham  before  the  date  of  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  club,  and  it  is  not  mentioned  again  in  his  journal.] 

Apr.  16,  Wed.  My  brother  and  Caleb  Ciark  here  from 
Killingly.  Went  with  them  to  Boston.  Spent  the  evening 
with  my  old  friend.  Jack  Watson. 

Apr.  17,  Thurs.  Dined  with  Mr.  Watson  at  Friend  Bagnal's. 
P.  M.  we  rode  in  the  chaise  to  Cambridge.  We  drank  tea  in 
Whipple's  chamber  (though  he  has  gone  to  Boston)  with  Austin 
and  Hill,  his  chums,  both  from  Boston.  They  treated  us  very 
genteelly,  waited  on  us  into  the  library,  hall,  dining-room,  etc., 
which  are  very  neat.  The  chief  of  the  books  in  the  library 
was  Mr,  Hollis'  donation,  neatly  gilt  and  lettered.  We  had  a 
very  pleasant  ride  to  Boston  in  the  evening,  and  lodged  at 
Bagnal's.  News  of  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act.  A  large 
bonfire  in  King  Street.     Met  sundry  Connecticut  gentlemen. 

Ajyr.  19,  Sat.  My  brother  set  out  for  Killingly.  Painted 
my  coat  of  arms. 

Apr.  28,  3Ion.  Much  engaged  in  study.  Mr.  Daniel 
Leonard  and  Josias  Quincy  drank  tea  here.  My  horse,  from 
home,  per  Captain  Daniels. 

Apr.  29,  Tues.  Rode  to  Boston.  Heard  nothing  .respect- 
ing the  Stamp  Act.     Subscribed  for  the  Universal  Museum. 

Apr.  30,  Wed.  Preparing  to  go  home.  Daniel  Leonard 
and  Josias  Quincy  drank  tea  again  at  Mr.  Balch's.  JVon 
nihil  signijicat ! 

[On  the  1st  of  May  Mr.  Cutler  returned  to  his  Connecticut 
home  ;  and  on  the  7th  of  the  month  went  to  Hartford,  to  at- 
tend the  general  election.] 

3Iai/7,Wed.  Set  out  for  Hartford.  Dined  at  Waterman  s, 
Mansfield,  in  company  of  the  representatives.  Colonel  Putnam 
and  Esq.  I.  Sumner.  Arrived  at  Hartford,  and  put  up  at 
Colonel  Wyllys'.  Spent  the  evening  with  Bull,  Howe,  Walker, 
and  Woodbridge  (his  college  friends). 

3Ia7/  8,  Thurs.  General  election.  A  large  number  of  peo- 
ple here.     Mr.  Lee  preached.     Sundry  of  my  class  in   town. 


16  Life  of  Rev.  3Tanasseh  Cutler. 

In  the  afternoon  the  votes  Avere  counted.  His  Honor,  Thos. 
Fitch  dropped,  and  Mr.  Pitkin  elected  Governor;  Jonathan 
Trumbull,  Deputy  Governor.  Four  of  the  Assistants  dropped, 
and  six  new  ones  elected.  A  high  campaign.  Major  Durkee 
and  Colonel  Putnam  at  the  head. 

[About  two  weeks  after  the  last  date,  Mr.  Cutler's  home 
was  visited  with  a  heavy  affliction  in  the  unexpected  death  of 
Ephraim,  his  only  brother ;  a  young  man  of  much  promise,  of 
a  fine  physical  development,  and  a  bright,  genial  nature,  who 
had  not  yet  completed  his  twenty-second  year.  The  following 
extract  from  the  journal  gives  an  account  of  this  event.] 

3Iay  21,  Wednesday.  Rode  to  Pomfret  with  Lyon  in  the 
morning  and  returned  about  4  o'clock.  Soon  after  I  came  home, 
my  dear  brother  brought  up  his  horse  in  order  to  ride  to  Mr. 
R-ickards  with  Simeon  and  Joseph  Lee,  but  had  ridden  only  a 
few  rods  from  the  house  when  a  hog  started  suddenly  from  the 
side  of  the  road,  and  threw  his  horse  upon  him  so  as  to  nearly 
beat  the  breath  out  of  his  body.  When  first  taken  up  and 
carried  into  the  house,  Ave  could  scarcely  perceive  that  he 
breathed  at  all.  Dr.  Moffat,  coming  in  immediately,  let  blood, 
which  seemed  in  some  measure  to  help  his  breathing.  In  a 
*few  minutes  Dr.  Torrey  came  in,  and  the  doctors  agreed  to 
cup  his  neck,  but  it  Avas  of  no  service ;  he  never  opened  his 
eyes  or  shoAved  the  least  sign  of  reason  or  sense.  About  mid- 
night he  had  strong  convulsive  struggles  and  was  thought  to 
be  dying,  but  he  got  over  them  and  breathed  as  before.  Rev. 
Mr.  BroAvn  made  two  prayers,  and  he  and  Madam  tarried  all 
night.     Many  people  in — 

May  22.  Just  after  day-break,  as  he  appeared  to  be  dying, 
Mr.  BroAvn  Avas  called  to  make  another  prayer.  As  he  recom- 
mended his  soul  to  God  Avho  gave  it,  and  prayed  that  his  angels 
might  guard  him  safe  to  eternal  joy  and  happiness,  he  resigned 
his  breath  Avithout  a  struggle,  only  straightening  himself  out 
on  the  bed.  0,  an  aAvful  instance  of  sudden  and  unexpected 
death!     His  head  was  much  jammed  and  bi'uised  as  Avell  as  his 

j     body.     It  Avas  thought  he  could  not  be  kept  till  the  next  day ; 

y  therefore  his  funeral  Avas  appointed  at  5  o'clock.  Notwith- 
^V  standing  it  Avas  so  sudden,  a  very  great  number  of  people 
y  attended.     Rev.  Mr.  Russel  shoAved  us  his  respect  by  coming 


( 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  17 

down  without  being  sent  to.  Our  friends  from  Pomfret, 
Thompson,  etc.,  came  and  returned  back  with  us.  Mr.  Brown 
also  tarried  in  the  evening.  He  was  well  and  in  his  grave  in 
less  than  twenty-four  hours.  God  grant  that  this  may  be  an 
aAvakening  to  all  to  be  always  ready  for  so  important  a  change, 
more  especially  those  who  are  nearly  concerned.  My  parents 
are  very  disconsolate. 

[With  the  exception  of  a  trip  to  New  Haven  in  company 
with  his  classmate,  Mr.  Howe,  and  two  or  three  short  visits  to 
Massachusetts,  Mr.  Cutler  spent  the  summer  of  1766  vfiih  his 
parents.  His  journal  indicates  the  books  with  which  he  occu- 
pied his  leisure :  "  Borrowed  of  Mr.  Russel,  Owen  upon  He- 
brews and  Hicks  upon  the  Revelation  of  St.  John."  "Bor- 
rowed of  Mr.  Fisk,  Mr.  Williard  and  Poole's  2d  vol."  "  Read 
Clapp's  Ethics — much  pleased."  "  Read  Dr.  Doddridge's  Proofs 
of  the  Christian  Religion,  in  three  sermons.  He  makes  it  ex- 
tremely clear."  "Reading  Mr.  Edwards  on  the  Freedom  of 
the  Will."     "  Read  Dr.  Young's  Night  Thoughts." 

That  Mr.  Cutler  felt  at  this  time  the  importance  of  religion, 
and  the  claims  of  God  upon  him,  is  shown  by  his  seeking  the 
counsel  of  his  pastor,  and  presenting  himself  as  a  candidate 
for  church  membership  before  .  "  Mr.  Brown's  Committee, 
Deacon  Earned  and  Elder  Whitmore."  He  writes :  "  The 
questions  asked  were  principally  doctrinal ;  some  were  prac- 
tical." '■'•Juhj  27,  Lord's  Day.  Mr.  Brown  preached  two 
very  good  discourses.  After  the  sermon,  p.  m.,  I  was  ad- 
mitted as  a  member  of  the  church  in  full  communion." 

He  probably  at  this  time  intended  to  prepare  himself  for  a 
professional  life,  but  was  temporarily  turned  from  his  purpose. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Newman,  the  widow  of  Colonel  John  Newman, 
who  had  left  a  large  estate,  proposed  to  him  to  go  to  Martha's 
Vineyard  and  take  charge  of  her  business  there.  He  accord- 
ingly visited  the  island,  was  satisfied  with  the  prospect  of  a 
lucrative  business,  and  decided  to  accept  the  situation  offered. 
On  his  return,  he  was  married  to  the  eldest  daughter  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Balch,*  of  Dedham,  and  thus  records  the  event.] 

*  The  Kev.  Thomas  Balch  was  graduated  at  Harvard  Colleire  in  1733; 
and  settled  as  the  first  pastor  of  the  South   Church,  in   Dedhaui,  in 

2 


V 


18  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Sepfemher  7.     This  day  appointed  to  celebrate  the  marriage 
ceremony  between  myself  and  Miss  Mary  Balch.     The  guests 
invited  to  be  present  were  :  Nathaniel  Sumner,  Esq.,  and  his 
lady ;  Mr.  Robert  Williams,  of  Boston,  and  his  lady ;  Captain 
Nathaniel  Dean,  and -his  lady;   Mr.  Zebediah  Clark,  and  his 
lady ;  Mr.  Jonathan   Dean,  and  his  lady  ;  Mr.  Increase  Sum- 
ner, and  his  lady ;  Deacon  Everett,  and  his  lady  ;  Mr.  Samuel 
Sumner,  and  lady ;  Mr.  Benja.  Sumner  ;  iNIr.  Asa  Everett ;  Miss 
/  Polly  Sumner,  and  Miss  Isa.  Everett.     A   handsome   supper 
was  prepared.     At  7  o'clock   p.  ai.  Rev.  Mr.  Balch  performed 
^     the  ceremony  ;    after  which  a  Psalm,  applicable,  was  sung,  sup- 
s'^ per  served,  and  the  evening  spent  in  a  very  agreeable  manner. 

[Mr.  Cutler  removed  at  once  to  Martha's  Vineyard,  and  was 
soon  established  as  a  merchant  at  Edgartown,  The  entries  in 
his  journal  at  this  time  are  few,  and  generally  brief.  Mrs. 
Newman,  who  had  committed  the  settlement  of  her  affairs  to 
him,  was  Mrs.  Cutler's  aunt.  She  had  recently  marrifed  her 
second  husband,  Jonathan  Metcalf,  Esq.,  of  Dedham.  Mr. 
Cutler  took  Mrs.  Metcalf 's  goods  on  commission,  at  twenty 
per  cent,  and  procured  more  from  Mr.  Cabot,  and  from  Quincey 
&  Deblois,  of  Boston.  He  writes  :  "  Had  as  much  custoiu  as 
I  could  possibly  tend.  Received  considerable  money.  Rarely 
dined  till  evening."  The  records,  instead  of  daily,  now  be- 
come monthly.] 

January,  1767.  Set  up  singing  meeting.  Began  to  sing 
by  rule,  the  first  that  has  been  practiced  in  this  town.  Meet 
twice  a  week  at  my  house. 

March.     Was  employed   in   two   cases   at   the   Bar,  at   the 

1736.  In  1744  he  was  appointed  by  the  Committee  of  War  a  chaplain 
in  the  experlition  against  the  I'^rench  at  Louisburg,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  sixteen  niontiis.  "lie  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
talents  and  intellectnal  attainrnenis,  and  thoroughly  orthodox  faith." 
As  a  Christian,  he  was  highly  and  deservedly  esteemed.  As  a  minis- 
ter, he  was  wise  to  win  souls  to  Christ,  and  ranked  high  as  a  preacher. 
He  fuided  a  number  of  young  men  in  tlnMr  theological  studies,  pre- 
paratory to  the  min'istry.  Mrs.  Mary  Balch,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Cut- 
ler, was  the  daughter  of  Edward  Sumner,  Esq. „  of  Roxbury.  a  wealthy 
land-owner  and  prominent  man.  She  is  spoken  of  as  an  amiable,  ac- 
complished, and  pious  woman." — Spraiines  Annuls  Am.  Pulpit;  Durtees 
Centennial  JJiscnur.se,  South  Church,  Didham,  18/iG. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  19 

Court  of  Common  Pleas  sitting  here.  My  first  attempt  that 
way. 

April.  Whalemen  fitted  out  for  the  Straits  of  Belle  Isle^ 
and  Davis  Straits.     I  fitted  half  with  Preble. 

Mai/.  Our  whaling  vessels  sailed  for  the  Western  Islands. 
I  fitted  half  with  Captain  Pease. 

October.  Captain  Pease  arrived  with  260  barrels  of  oil 
from  the  Western  Islands  ;  Preble  with  200  do. 

[Besides  these  ventures  on  the  sea,  which  were  continued 
in  successive  years,  he  imported  salt  from  Turk's  Island,  and 
notes  the  arrival  of  "  my  sloop,  the  Favorite,  from  the  Mole 
of  Cape  St.  Nicholas,  laden  with  sugar,  which  I  had  supposed 
was  lost,  but  she  came  into  the  Vineyard  well  conditioned."] 
In  November  of  this  year  there  were '"  Extremely  hard  gales 
of  wind,  and  much  shipwreck.  Davis,  a  pilot  from  Homes' 
Hole,  was  lost  going  into  Cape  Ann.  Butler  was  lost  with  all 
his  crew,  whaling  on  the  southward  ground." 

The  next  year,  1768,  in  July,  he  "  went  to  Connecticut,  and 
was  also  at  commencement  at  Cambridge.  Sent  up  to  New 
Haven  a  question  to  be  put  in  the  Thesis,  and  likewise  for  a 
degree." 

Se])tember.  Whalemen  began  to  come  in  with  good  voyages. 
The  14th  of  this  month  brother  Benjamin  Balch  *  was  or- 
dained at  Mendon.  Likewise  the  same  day  was  commence- 
ment at  New  Haven,  when  I  suppose  I  had  a  second  degree 
given  me,  tho'  I  was  not  present.    [The  degree  was  conferred.] 

October.  This  month  I  fully  determined  to  study  Divinity, 
and  accordingly  began  my  study. 

November.  Prosecuted  my  study.  Began  to  make  ser- 
mons. May  God  grant  me  his  blessing  and  assistance  in  so 
important  an  undertaking,  and  make  me  serviceable  to  the 
cause  of  religion,  and  the  souls  of  my  fellow   men.     Tho'  I 


*  Benjamin  Balch,  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Balch,  of  Dedham,  graduated 
at  Harvard  College,  1763.  He  was  ordained  the  first  minister  of  Men- 
don South  Society,  September  14,  1768;  but  resigned  that  position  in 
1772,  and  during  the  Revolutionary  War  was  chaplain  in  the  army  and 
in  the  naval  service.  He  was  installed  third  minister  at  Barrington, 
N.  H.,  August  25,  1784;  ami  died  May  4,  \SW.— Mann's  Annals  of 
Ded/tam. 


20  ,      Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

never  engaged  in  this  study  with  so  firm  resolutions  before, 
yet  I  have  for  many  years  had  very  serious  thoughts  of  enter- 
ino-  the  ministry.  My  inclination  always  led  me  to  choose 
this  employment  rather  than  any  other  in  the  world,  let  it  be 
ever  so  profitable,  or  promising. 

1769.  February  of  this  year  began  with  a  severe  snow- 
storm. This  harbor  entirely  frozen  up  without  the  Cape  a 
considerable  distance.  The  Sound  was  said  to  be  frozen  over 
near  the  West  Chop  of  Homes'  Hole.  Ice  froze  out  a  consid- 
erable distance  at  sea  the  south  side,  some  said  as  far  as  they 
could  see  from  the  land.  Some  mild  weather  toward  the  last 
of  the  month,  but  concluded  with  high  winds. 

March.  Applied  to  the  study  of  Divinity,  with  a  deter- 
mined resolution  to  prosecute  it. 

June,  1769.  The  3d  day  of  this  month  happened  the 
Transit  of  Venus  over  the  sun's  disk.  This  rare  phenomenon 
never  happened,  that  was  seen,  but  twice  before  since  the 
Creation.  The  first  was  in  the  year  1639,  and  was  seen  by 
two  persons  only — Jeremiah  Horrocks,  a  young  English  as- 
tronomer, who  alone  had  predicted  it,  and  a  young  friend  of 
his,  William  Crabtree.  The  next  was  in  1761 ;  and  there  will 
not  be  another  happen  until  1874,  which  will  not  be  seen  by 
this  generation,  or  any  now  living.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Kingsbury 
and  myself  very  carefully  observed  the  beginning,  both  when 
it  first  touched  the  first  part  of  the  sun's  limb,  and  when  it 
was  totally  immersed.  We  had  a  very  good  perspective  glass, 
with  a  smoked  glass  fixed  within  the  case  without  the  eye- 
glass, and  could  see  both  Venus  and  a  number  of  nebulee  or 
black  spots  on  the  sun's  surface.  Venus  came  on  to  the  sun's 
limb  on  the  upper  or  northern  part,  and  passed  west  of  the 
center,  and  went  ofi"  at  the  south-west  limb.  We  were  not 
certain  that  our  watches  were  right,  as  we  could  not  set  them 
by  a  meridian  for  some  days  before  it  happened,  on  the  account 
of  its  being  cloudy,  but  I  imagine  my  watch  was  not  far  from 
the  sun.     By  my  observation — 

Began,   2  h.  50"  p.  m. 

Total  immersion,   3  h.     5" 
Middle,   6  h.    2" 

One  remarkable  large  spot  near  the  sun's  center. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  21 

September.  Much  engaged  in  setting  my  affairs,  as  I  in- 
tend soon  to  go  out  of  my  present  business,  and  engage  in 
that  of  quite  a  different  kind. 

[Nov.,  1769.  Mr.  Cutler  left  the  Vineyard  Avith  his  family, 
and  arrived  in  Dedham,  November  13,  in  order  to  pursue  his 
theological  studies  under  the  direction  of  his  father-in-law, 
Rev.  Thomas  Balch.] 

Nov.  14/7i,  Tues.  This  day  had  my  hair  cut  off,  but  with 
much  reluctance.     Had  a  dark  wig. 

Nov.  26th,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached  (at  Mendon)  for  Mr. 
Balch.  Being  the  first  time  I  ever  entered  the  sacred  desk, 
was  something  intimidated.  In  the  forenoon  preached  from 
these  words  (Luke,  16  :  31) ;  "And  he  said  unto  him,  if  they 
hear  not  Moses  and  the  prophets,  neither  Avill  they  be  per- 
suaded though  one  rose  from  the  dead."  And  in  the  after- 
noon from  1st  Cor.  3  ;  11 :  "  For  other  foundation  can  no 
man  lay  than  that  is  laid  which  is  Jesus  Christ." 

[Mr.  Cutler  continued  his  studies  with  Mr.  Balch  nearly 
ttvo  years,  preaching  in  the  meantime  at  different  places,  as 
Douglas,  Wrentham,  Roxbury,  and  Boxford.] 

January  18, 1770.     A  remarkable  Aurora  Borealis.     It  be-  ^ 

gan  some  time  before  the  daylight  disappeared,  and  extended 
from  near  due  east  to  due  west ;  appeared  remarkably  red  near 
N.E.  or  N.N.E.  The  red  was  almost  as  bright  a  crimson  as 
blood.  There  were  constant  streamers  running  up  from  east 
to  west.  It  was  unusually  high  up  in  the  northern  board,  and 
the  light  continued  nearly  all  night.  This  day  being  the 
Queen's  birth  day  the  cannons  Avere  discharged  at  the  batteries 
in  Boston,  and  were  very  loud  and  distinctly  heard  at  Mr. 
Balch's  (Dedham),  notwithstanding  there  was  snow  on  the 
ground. 

llarch  6,  Tues.  Heard  of  four  men  being  killed  in  Boston 
by  the  soldiers. 

3Iarch  7,  Wed.  Heard  more  of  the  disturbances  in  Bos- 
ton.    [Boston  massacre.] 

March  12,  Mo7i.  Town  meeting  (at  Douglas).  A  great 
number  of  gentlemen  from  neighboring  towns.  .  Prayed  at  the 
opening  of  the  meeting. 

March  13,  Tues.     A  number  of   town  people  to  visit  me. 


22  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Committee  earnestly  desired  my  longer  continuance.  Gave 
them  but  little  encouragement.  From  observations  I  made 
at  town  meeting  thought  it  difficixlt  to  continue  there. 

3Iarch  21,  Wed.  Brother  Balcli  and  I  rode  to  Boston.  In- 
tended to  have  gone  to  Cambridge,  to  the  installment  of  Mr. 
Locke,  but  the  storm  prevented.     Snowed  hard. 

March  28.  Deacon  Davis  here  from  Roxbury  to  engage 
me  to  preach  six  Sabbaths. 

April  8,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  at  Mr.  Walter's  parish, 
Roxbury.  Colonel  Otis,  Major  Otis,  and  Colonel  Williams 
present. 

3Iay  14,  Mo7i.  This  day  Avas  appointed  by  the  Church  of 
Christ,  in  Douglas,  to  make  choice  of  a  gospel  minister,  and 
the  town  was  likewise  warned  to  meet  to  see  if  they  would 
concur  wuth  the  church  in  their  choice.  Previous  to  the 
meetins:  a  lecture  was  attended.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Hall  and 
Webb  were  applied  to  and  were  present.  Mr.  Hall  preached 
a  sermon  from  these  words  in  2d  Cor.  8  :  5  :  "  But  first  gave 
their  own  selves  to  the  Lord."  After  service  Mr.  Hall  and 
Mr.  Webb  were  desired  to  be  the  Moderators,  and  the  church 
proceeded  to  make  choice  of  me  for  their  minister  by  a  unani- 
mous vote.  The  ministers  dined  with  me  at  Mr.  Whitings. 
Li  the  afternoon  the  town  unanimously  concurred  in  giving 
me  a  call  to  settle  with  them  (Nem.  Contr.  Die),  and  voted 
£1,000  Old  Tenor  Settlement,  £400  salary  the  first  three  years 
and  then  £450.  Sundry  persons  offered  private  presents — Dr. 
Genison  £100,  Mr.  Draper  £50,  Mr.  Wood  something  hand- 
some, etc.  They  likewise  offered  to  build  me  a  house  gratis, 
and  give  me  two  years'  provision,  but  this  was  in  a  private 
manner.     Mr.  Webb  concluded  with  prayer. 

May  18.  (At  Dedham.)  The  29th  Regiment  of  soldiers 
marched  by — about  400 — they  made  a  very  ordinary  ap- 
pearance. They  marched  all  in  one  body ;  are  to  march 
from  Boston  to  Providence  by  land,  where  they  are  to  take 
shipping  and  go  to  the  Jerseys,  where  they  are  destined. 
[To  this  regiment  the  soldiers  engaged  in  the  Boston  massacre 
belonged.] 

May  19.  Some  of  the  remainder  of  the  soldiers  and  their 
women  passed  by. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  23 

3Iaj/  30,  Wed.  General  election.  The  Governor,  by  man- 
date of  a  minister  of  state,  was  pleased  to  order  the  General 
Assembly  to  convene  at  Cambridge,  This  was  a  measure  so 
disagreeable  to  the  people  that  none,  except  tools  and  de- 
pendents, attended  at  Cambridge,  but  resorted  to  the  usual 
place.  Dr.  Chauncy  having  been  appointed  to  preach  a  ser- 
mon in  the  old  Brick  Meeting  House,  a  very  large  assembly, 
both  of  the  clergy  and  gentlemen  of  distinction,  convened, 
Mr,  Mather  began  with  prayer.  Dr.  Chauncy  preached  a  very 
suitable  discourse  from  Psalm  22  :  4 — "  Our  fathers  trusted 
in  Thee,  they  trusted,  and  Thou  didst  deliver  them."  The 
whole  was  concluded  by  an  anthem  admirably  well  sung  by  a 
select  number  of  singers  provided  for  that  purpose.  At  2 
o'clock  an  elegant  entertainment  was  provided  in  Faneuil  Hall, 
and  the  clergy  of  every  denomination  were  invited  to  dine.  After 
dinner  a  number  of  healths  were  drank,  and  an  ox,  that  had 
been  roasted  whole  on  the  Common,  was  brought  to  Faneuil 
Hall,  drawn  on  four  wheels  by  horses,  on  tj;ie  spit  as  he  was 
roasted,  with  his  head  and  horns  on.  A  vast  concourse  of 
people  to  see  the  ox.  Three  cheers  were  given  and  a  number 
of  guns  fired.  The  ox  was  drawn  back  to  the  Common,  and 
there  distributed  to  the  poor.  Mr,  Balch  and  myself  dined 
in  the  Hall.  We  came  to  Roxbury  and  lodged  at  Mr.  Increase 
Sumner's. 

Jul)/  11.  Mr,  Fitch  and  I  rode  down  to  Cambridge,  in 
order  to  take  our  Degrees,  We  waited  on  the  President  in 
the  forenoon  and  paid  him  for  them.  The  expense  of  a  De- 
gree was  20s. L.M.  We  dined  at  Mr.  Marsh's.  In  the  after- 
noon was  in  the  Library  and  Museum  with  Mr.  Mayhew, 
Librarian.  Mr.  Fitch  went  from  Cambridge  to  Boston,  and  I 
came  home. 

■July  15,  Lor'd's  Day.  (At  Douglas.)  After  the  exercises 
were  over  I  read  to  them  an  answer  to  their  call,  and  pro- 
posed to  leave  them  for  the  present,  and  desiring  them  in  the 
meantime  to  apply  farther,  and  in  case  any  gentleman  should 
be  so  agreeable  to  them  as  to  unite  them,  and  they  should 
incline  to  give  him  a  call,  I  would  give  them  a  negative  an- 
swer. If  not,  I  might  possibly  see  my  way  clear  hereafter  to 
settle  with  them. 


24  Life  of  Rev.  ManasseJi  Cutler. 

Juli)  18,  ^Ved.  This  day  Commencement  at  Cambridge. 
Father  Balch  and  myself  rode  down  in  the  chaise.  The  pro- 
cession began  about  11  o'clock,  I  walked  next  the  class  that 
Commenced  Masters.  The  Salutatory  Oration  was  de- 
livered very  handsomely — then  a  Dialogue  in  English;  a  Dia- 
logue in  Greek,  Disputations  Syllogistic  ;  Dialogue  in  Chaldaic, 
three  persons  in  the  act,  very  handsomely  performed;  Do.  on 
Public  Educations,  and  Do.  on  Liberty  in  Imitation  of  the 
Romans.  Dined  in  the  Hall.  In  the  afternoon  Syllogistic 
Disputes,  etc.  I  was  the  first  person  to  Avhom  President 
Locke  gave  the  Degree  of  Master  of  Arts — walked  at  the 
head  of  the  Masters,  and  had  on  a  black  gown  and  hat.  Ex- 
tremely hot.     Came  out  to  Roxburv  and  lodged  there. 

August  12,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  at  Wrentham,  South 
Parish.     Sent  a  decided  answer  to  Douglas. 

Aug.  14,  Tuesday.  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  at  Mr,  Bean's 
Meeting  House  in  Wrentham  ;  Mr  Balch,  Mr.  Dean,  my  wife, 
and  myself  Avent  up  to  hear  him.  Large  assembly.  He  be- 
gan his  exercise  at  8  o'clock.  His  prayer  half  an  hour.  Sang 
3d  Psalm,  old  version.  Text,  lltli  Chap.  Luke,  13th  verse  : 
"  If  ye  being  evil  know  how  to  give  good  gifts  to  your  chil- 
dren ;  how  much  more  shall  your  Heavenly  Father  give  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  Him."  His  text  was  handsomely 
opened  ;  his  subject  turned  principally  upon  the  necessity  of  the 
assistance  of  the  Divine  Spirit  in  performing  all  our  duties.  Had 
not  so  much  as  the  heads  of  his  sermon  written — very  flighty 
and  rambling — his  audience  not  over-much  affected.  He  had 
many  good  expressions,  and  many  very  odd,  and  improper  for 
the  pulpit.  Not  at  all  pleased  with  him  upon  the  whole,  as 
his  discourse  was  not  at  all  enlightening  and  instructive,  but 
very  broken,  and  interwoven  with  impertinent  stories.  His 
gestures  very  extravagant,  though  natural  and  easy.  His  ser- 
mon an  hour  and  a  half,  and  all  the  substance,  I  imagine, 
might  have  been  delivered  handsomely  in  ten  minutes.  After 
meeting  he  had  a  coach  at  the  Meeting  House  door,  stepped 
in,  and  rode  to  Mr.  Man's,  where  he  refreshed  himself,  and  set 
out  immediately  for  Boston.  He  preached  in  his  black  gown. 
Came  home  after  meeting.  Rained  considerably,  which  was 
much  wanted,  as  it  had  been  extremely  dry. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  25 

Aug.  25.  Returned  to  Wrentham.  This  week  heard  much 
of  an  uncommon  worm  that  had  been  very  frequent  in  many- 
parts  of  the  country.  This  worm  very  nearly  resembles  the 
Avorms  that  eat  the  roots  of  beans,  but  is  something  larger, 
being  generally  about  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  and  is  smooth 
and  striped  on  the  back.  Wherever  these  worms  were,  there 
was  a  very  large  number  of  them,  and  they  entirely  devoured 
large  pieces  of  .grass,  corn,  oats,  barley,  etc.,  in  a  few  days 
after  they  began  to  eat  it.  They  destroyed  much  grass  in 
Fowl  Meadow.  They  began  at  the  top  of  the  grass  and  eat 
downward,  and  entirely  devoured  the  whole  of  the  grass 
wherever  they  began  upon  it.  I  saw  whole  acres  of  grass, 
which  I  imagine  was  near  as  high  as  my  waist,  entirely  eaten 
up,  and  the  ground  as  smooth  and  looked  as  dry  as  common 
pasture  land  in  a  very  dry  season.  I  saw  several  worms, 
which  were  in  the  daytime  gone  down  into  the  ground  at  the 
roots  of  the  grass,  for  they  eat  only  in  the  night,  early  in  the 
morning,  and  just  at  sunset.  They  did  great  damage  in 
Roxbury,  vast  numbers  of  them  were  in  Boston,  and  in 
Charlestown  they  were  so  plenty  that  it  was  said  the  people 
could  not  walk  on  the  pavements  Avithout  treading  on  a  large 
number  every  step  they  took,  and  that  they  came  into  their 
houses  so  that  people  were  obliged  to  keep  constantly  sweep- 
ing to  keep  them  out.  In  some  of  these  towns  they  destroyed 
large  fields  of  corn,  and  I  was  credibly  informed  that  they 
came  into  their  houses  in  such  numbers,  not  only  at  the  doors, 
but  windows  and  elsewhere,  that  they  got  into  their  beds,  and 
the  people  for  many  nights  could  not  go  to  bed.  They  were 
in  Connecticut  and  the  Southern  Colonies.  They  are  sup- 
posed to  be  periodical,  and  that  they  come  every  twenty- 
five  or  tAventy-seven  years.  It  is  said  they  Avere  frequent 
about  so  long  ago.  They  seem  to  move  from  one  place  to 
another  in  great  bodies.  Were  first  seen,  I  think,  about  the 
25th  of  June,  and  I  believe  not  many  Avere  seen  after  the  25th 
of  July  or  1st  of  August.  Whether  these  Avorms  are  period- 
ical or  not,  they  Avere  so  distressing  in  many  places  that  they 
seemed  to  be  but  little  inferior  to  the  plagues  of  Egypt. 

Aug.  31.     Studied.     Invited  to  go  to  Boxford  to  preach. 

September  1,  Saturday      Rode  to  Milton  to  hear  Mr.  White- 


26  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

field.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  present.  Preached  much  bet- 
ter than  at  Wrentham.  I  liked  his  preaching  well.  Dined  at 
Mr.  Robins',  with  Father  Balch,  Mr.  Taft,  Mr.  Weld,  and  Mr. 
Niles,  a  A'Oung  candidate.  Mr.  Whitefield  dined  with  the 
Governor. 

jSept.  9.     Preached  at  Wrentham.     Good  attention. 

Sept.  10,  3Ionday.  A  precinct  meeting  (at  \Yrentham). 
Voted  that  the  standing  committee  for  supplying  the  pulpit 
apply  to  Mr.  M.  Cutler,  and  desire  him  to  preach  eight  Sab- 
baths more,  in  order  for  settlement,  or  any  part  of  said  time. 
Engaged  six  Sabbaths. 

Sept.  12.  Received  the  news  that  Governor  Hutchinson 
had  given  up  Castle  William  to  the  command  of  the  Regular 
Troops,  and  had  withdrawn  the  Province's  garrison.  Colonel 
Dalryraple  took  command  Monday,  at  4  o'clock.  Made  a 
great  consternation  in  Boston.  The  Commissioners  rode  the 
next  day  about  town  in  the  greatest  pomp. 

Sep)t.  15,  Sat.  Set  out  for  Boxford.  Went  through  Mystic, 
and  dined  with  Rev.  Mr.  Sherman,  of  Woburn.  Rode  through 
Wilmington,  a  very  poor  town,  and  Andover,  a  very  wealthy 
one.  Arrived"  at  Boxford  in  the  evening,  and  put  up  at 
Deacon  Chadwick's. 

Sept.  18  (having  preached  at  Boxford  on  the  IHth).  Set 
out  for  Newbury  ;  called  at  Mr.  Balch's  in  Bradford ;  dined  in 
Newbury ;  spent  the  afternoon  in  Newbury  Port.  A  very 
pleasant  town,  beautifully  situated  on  the  mouth  of  Merrimack 
River,  with  a  commodious  harbor  and  considerable  shipping; 
a  very  considerable  number  of  houses  and  handsome  streets  5 
four  large  Meeting  Houses,  besides  the  church.  Returned  to 
Rev.  Mr.  Noble's  and  tarried  there,  two  miles  from  town. 

Sept.  19.  Rode  back  to  Mr.  Balch's  and  spent  the  day 
with  him  ;  ver}^  agreeably  entertained.  Found  Mr.  Balch  to 
be  a  very  sensible,  sociable  gentleman.  Much  pleased  with 
his  ffirm,  as  well  as  his  conversation.  He  said  but  little,  if 
any  thing,  about  disputable  points  in  Divinity. 

'Sept.  20.  Went  from  Bradford  over  the  river  to  Haverhill, 
my  mother's  native  place,  but  found  none  of  her  relations. 
Put  up  at  a  public  house.  Haverhill  is  a  considerable  large 
town,  settled  principally  on  the  bank  of  the  Merrimack  River, 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  27 

and  has  a  very  handsome  street  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
fronting  the  south.  Business  appeared  very  lively.  After 
dinner,  crossed  the  river  into  the  upper  end  of  Bradford, 
which  is  likewise  a  pleasant  town,  situated  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  and  extends  from  Newburv  to  Andover.  Went 
from  thence  to  Boxford,  which  lays  to  the  southward  of  Brad- 
ford. Tarried  at  Mr.  Stephen  Barker's,  a  very  wealthy 
farmer. 

Sept.  23,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  at  Boxford.  A  very  full 
meeting. 

Sept.  24.  The  Committee  applied  to  me  to  stay  longer  (at 
Boxford),  but  I  was  engaged  at  Wrentham.  Set  out  home. 
Went  through  this  parish,  which  is  small  but  a  very  wealthy 
parish,  to  the  other  parish  in  Boxford,  and  called  on  Rev. 
Mr.  Holyoke,  who  is  the  pastor  there.  From  thence  I  came 
through  Topsfield  and  Danvers,  and  then  to  Salem,  and  dined 
at  Captain  Goodhue's.  The  two  former  are  wealthy  country 
towns,  and  the  latter  is  much  larger  than  I  imagined  it  to  be. 
The  number  of  houses  seems  to  be  great,  but  the  streets  near 
the  town-house  are  very  much  pinched.  A  number  of  square- 
rigged  vessels  in  the  harbor.  From  Salem  I  rode  to  Marble- 
head.  This  town  is  the  most  unpleasantly  situated  of  any 
town  I  ever  saw.  The  buildings  are  very  indiiferent,  Mr. 
Lee's  excepted,  which  is,  I  think,  the  grandest  dwelling-house  * 
in  the  Province.  The  streets  are  filled  with  small  children. 
A  large  number  of  fishing  schooners  in  the  harbor,  and  some 
merchantmen.  Three  Meeting  Houses  with  steeples  in  the 
town.  From  Marblehead  came  through  Lynn,  which  is  famous 
for  shoemakers  and  salt  marsh.  The  town  is  pleasant,  l>ut  is 
very  far  from  having  the  appearance  of  wealth.  The  town  is 
situated  on  a  large  plain.  The  Meeting  House  stands  near 
the  center  of  the  town  and  is  very  old.  It  was  built  in  the 
form  that  Meeting  Houses  were  usually  built  in  the  first  set- 
tlement of  the  country.  The  street  through  the  town  is 
broad,  and  has  a  large  number  of  shoemaker's  shops  on  each 
side.     From  Lynn  came  through  Maiden,  over  Penny  Ferry 

*This  house  is  still  standing,  and  with  its  solid  in'diognny  staii'case 
and  paper  on  the  walls  brought  i'rom  England  in  <  olonial  times,  is 
still  one  of  the  wonders  of  Marblehead. 


28  Life^  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 


to    Charlestown.     Lodged    in    Boston.     Returned    home    the 
next  day,  much  fatigued  Avith  my  journey. 

Oof.  20.  A  very  severe  storm  at  N,  E.,  wind  extremely 
high.  The  storm  began  in  the  night  and  continued  all  day. 
Expect  that  much  damage  is  done  by  sea  and  land. 

Oct.  22.  Heard  that  much  damage  "vvas  done  in  Boston  by 
the  late  storm.  A  large  number  of  vessels  cast  away,  and 
people  lost  in  Plymouth  Bay  and  on  the  Cape. 

Oct.  23.  Rode  to  Boston  with  Brother  Balch ;  saw  much 
of  the  effects  of  the  storm  ;  several  vessels  cast  away  in  the 
Harbor ;  a  large  quantity  of  timber  brought  up  on  the  pave- 
ments and  on  the  Neck. 

[In  November  Mr,  Cutler  revisited  Martha's  Vineyard  with 
Mrs.  Cutler.  He  was  busily  occupied  two  weeks  in  settling 
accounts.  November  11th  he  preached  at  Tisbury  for  Rev. 
Mr.  Damon,  and  on  the  18th  for  Rev.  Mr.  Kingsbury,  at  Ed- 
gartown.] 

JVov.  25,  Lord's  Day.  Mr.  Balch  preached  at  Wrentham 
on  my  account,  and  I  preached  for  him  at  Dedham,  in  the  new 
Meeting  House,  for  the  first  time. 

Dec.  Q^Thurs.  Thanksgiving  through  the  Province.  Preached 
at  Wrentham  and  took  my  leave  of  the  assembly.  They  had 
had  two  church  meetings  in  order  to  give  me  an  invitation  to 
settle  with  them,  but  could  not  unite  on  account  of  former 
difiiculties  subsisting  in  the  church. 

Dec.  22,  Sat.  Message  from  Boxford.  Set  out  with  Mr. 
Jos.  Robinson,  who  came  for  me.  Extremely  cold  and  very 
icy.  Stopped  at  Mr.  Eraser's,  in  Andover.  It  was  so  slip- 
pery that  I  could  get  my  horse  no  farther.  Left  him  and  got 
another  to  ride  to  Boxford,  where  we  arrived  at  11  o'clock. 

[The  new  year,  1771,  found  Mr.  Cutler  still  supplying  the 
pulpit  at  Boxford.  He  writes,  facetiously,  of  his  services 
there,  thus]  : 

Jan.  13,  Lord's  Day.  Preached.  My  discourses  con- 
demned as  heretical. 

Jan.  20,  Lord's  Day.  Preached,  and  retrieved  my  charac- 
ter, in  some  measure,  with  the  Sandemanians  and  Antinomians, 
as  I  sent  them  all  to  the  de'il ;  but  in  the  afternoon  brought 
some  of  them  back  again,  which  was  a  little  disagreeable. 


Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler.  29 

Jan.  21,  3Ion.  Set  out  from  Boxford  to  visit  the  neighbor- 
ing ministers.  Dined  at  Mr.  Russel's,  in  Bradford,  and 
lodged  with  Mr.  Baker. 

Jan.  22,  Tues.  Rode  down  to  Mr.  Noble's,  at  Newbury- 
Newtown,  and  dined  with  him.  After  dinner  rode  down  to 
the  Port,  and  visited  Mr.  Marsh.  Mr.  Gary  Avas  gone  to 
Boston.  Called  on  Mr.  Bass,  a  verj/  agreeable,  sociable 
gentleman.  Called  at  several  other  places.  Lodged  at  Mr. 
Noble's. 

Jan.  23,  Wed.  Mr.  Noble  and  I  dined  at  Captain  Little's, 
one  of  his  parishioners.  After  dinner  rode  over  to  Mr.  Par- 
son's, of  Byfield,  and  lodged  with  him. 

Jayi.  24,  TJiurs.  Went  with  Mr.  Parsons  to  see  the  Dum- 
mer  School,  Mr.  Moody,  Master.  Very  fine  accommodations 
for  instructing  youth.  It  happened  to  be  Mr.  Parsons'  lec- 
ture, Mr.  Jewett,  Mr.  Chandler,  Mr.  Searle,  and  Mr.  Moody 
dined  with  us.  I  Avas  obliged  to  preach,  tho'  much  against 
my  inclination.  Rode  home  with  Mr.  Chandler,  of  New 
Rowley,  and  tarried  with  him. 

Jan.  29,  Tues.     Rode  over  to  Andover  to  visit  Mr.  Symmes. 

Jan.  30,  Wed.  (at  Boxford).  Invited  to  sup  wuth  Mr.  Por- 
ter, the  Churchman.  This  evening  a  petition  was  presented 
to  the  committee  for  supplying  the  pulpit,  signed  by  forty-five 
of  the  heads  of  families.  Two  of  the  committee  seemed  not 
to  be  pleased  with  it,  and  I  refused  to  comply  with  the  request, 
which  was  that  I  should  preach  six  more  Sabbaths,  in  order  to 
have  a  call.     Invited  to  go  to  Ipswich  Hamlet. 

[Ipswich  Hamlet  was  the  third  parish  of  Ipswich,  in  Essex 
County,  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  Massachusetts,  pleasantly 
situated  on  each  side  of  a  river  of  the  same  name,  one  mile 
from  the  sea,  and  some  thirty  miles  northward  from  Boston, 
but  much  nearer  the  large  towns  of  Salem  and  Newburyport. 
It  was  settled,  in  1633,  by  John  Winthrop,  Jr.,  and  his  com- 
panions, "  of  good  ranke  and  quality,"  and  was  reputed  to  be 
*'  the  best  land  in  the  colony  for  tillage  and  cattle,  with  an  ex- 
cellent harbor  for  ships  and  fine  fishing."  The  governors, 
Dudley,  Bellingham,  and  Bradstreet,  and  other  persons  of  dis- 
tinction, made  it  their  dwelling-place.  They  were  men  of 
property,  piety,  and  intelligence.     Generations   had  passed  ; 


30  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

the  harbor  was  obstructed  by  sand  bars,  and  fell  into  dis- 
credit ;  but  the  fishing,  the  tillage  and  pasture  lands  were  still 
the  same ;  and  the  people  maintained  their  reputation  for 
good  morals  and  intelligence.  At  the  time  when  Manasseh 
Cutler  was  invited  to  go  to  the  Hamlet,  the  venerable  Nathan- 
iel Rogers  and  the  erudite  Joseph  Dana  ministered  to  the  first 
and  second  churches  in  Ipswich.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Wiggles- 
worth,  "  an  eminent  divine,"  had  filled  the  then  vacant  pulpit 
of  the  third  church  at  the  Hamlet  from  the  time  of  its  forma- 
tion, in  1714,  until  his  death,  in  1768,  a  period  of  fifty-four 
years.] 

Jan.  31,  Thiers.  Wrote  to  the  committee  at  the  Hamlet,  in- 
forming them  that  I  should  comply  w4th  their  request,  and  be 
with  them  after  two  Sabbaths. 

l^eb.  8,  Fri.  Trees  this  morning  very  much  loaded  with 
ice,  which  the  Indians  supposed  predicted  a  fruitful  year. 
Mr.  Balch's  lecture.  Mr.  Haven  preached.  He  has  a  very 
polite,  agreeable  delivery. 

Feb.  15,  Fri.  Mr.  Balch  and  I  invited  to  dine  with  Mr. 
Pemberton,  Jamaica  Plains,  Roxbury.  Rode  down  in  the 
morning.  Mr.  Jackson,  of  Brookline,  and  Mr.  Eliot,  Tutor 
at  College,  present.  Mr.  Balch  preached  the  lecture.  Rode 
to  Roxbury  Street,  in  my  way  to  Ipswich  Hamlet.  Lodged  at 
Mr.  Samuel  Sumner's. 

Feb.  16,  Sat.  Arrived  at  the  Hamlet  in  the  evening. 
Lodged  at  Madam  Whipple's. 

Feb.  17,  Lord's  Bay.  Preached.  Snowed  almost  all  day. 
Not  very  many  people  at  meeting. 

Feb.  20,  Wed.  Read  Dr.  Whittaker's  sermon  on  the  death 
of  Mr.  Whitfield. 

Apr.l,  3Ion.  Dined  in  Boston.  Governor  Shirley  buried; 
a  very  grand  funeral. 

Apr.  18,  Thurs.  General  fast,  not  only  in  this  Province, 
but  in  Hampshire  and  Connecticut.  Preached  at  the  Hamlet. 
Read  the  Proclamation.     Omitted  singing. 

3Iai/  1,  Wed.  This  day  Mr.  Hitchcock,  at  Beverly,  and 
Mr.  Story,  at  Marblehead,  were  ordained.  Attended  at  Bev- 
erly ;  a  great  number  of  people,  but  all  behaved  well ;  no  dis- 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  31 

order  at    all;    a  number  of  ministers    and    young   preachers 
present. 

Mai/  6,  Mon.  The  church  (at  the  Hamlet)  met  at  5  o'clock 
to  choose  a  minister.  All  present  voted  to  give  me  a  call  to 
settle  with  them,  except  two,  who  refused  to  vote  in  the  nega- 
tive, but  said  the  church  were  too  hasty. 

JJai/  27,  3Jon.  This  day  appointed  to  give  me  a  call  to 
settle  with  them  in  the  ministry. 

June  8,  iSat.  The  parish  appear  very  desirous  that  I  should 
give  my  answer  immediately.  Rode  to  town  and  took  advice 
with  Rev.  Messrs.  Rogers  and  Dana.  Mr.  Rogers  advised  me 
to  put  into  my  answer  my  expectation  of  a  support  while  the 
ministerial  relation  remains,  and  to  make  it  the  condition  of 
my  acceptance,  which  I  accordingly  did.  Agreed  to  exchange, 
to-morrow,  with  Mr.  Dana,  who  will  read  my  answer,  signify- 
ing my  acceptance. 

[The  acceptance  of  the  call  to  settle  in  Ipswich  Hamlet  is  in 
these  words  : 

To  THE  Church  and  Parish  in  Ipswich  Hamlet  : 

Dearhj  Beloved: — You  having  given  me  an  invitation  to 
settle  with  yoii  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry,  and  hav- 
ing taken  the  same  under  serious  and  prayerful  consideration, 
I  must  observe  the  work  appears  great  and  important,  and  I 
feel  my  own  insufficiency,  but  relying  on  the  great  Head  of 
the  Church  for  grace  and  strength,  and  having  a  desire  to  de- 
vote myself  to  the  work  of  theministry,  I  find  myself  inclined 
to  accept  your  invitation. 

And  as  to  the  support  you  have  been  pleased  to  oflFer  me,  I 
hope  it  may  be  sufficient,  and  thank  you  for  it,  but  must  make 
it  the  condition  of  my  acceptance  that  if  I  am  settled  with 
you  you  will  afford  me  this  support  so  long  as  my  ministerial 
relation  shall  continue,  and  that  you  will  from  time  to  time 
afford  me  such  a  comfortable  living  as  that  I  may  devote  my- 
self to  the  work  of  the  ministry ;  for  he  that  preacheth  the 
Gospel  ought  to  live  of  the  Gospel.  Upon  these  conditions 
I  signify  my  acceptance  of  your  call.  Begging  your  prayers 
for  me,  that  I  may  come  to  you  in  the  fullness  of  the  blessing 
of  the  Gospel,  that   the  work   of  the   Lord   may  prosper,  and 


32  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

that  I  may  remember  I  must  give  an  account  how  I  preach, 
and  you  how  you  hear,  so  that  we  may  both  at  last  give  up 
our  account  with  joy,  and  live  forever  in  the  kingdom  of 
<jrod,  I  subscribe  myself, 

Your  most  aflFectionate  friend,  and  laborer  in  the  Gospel, 

M.  Cutler.] 

June  24,  31oyi.  Church  Committee  with  me  to  prepare  a 
Covenant.  Agreed  to  renew  the  old  Covenant.  I  drew  up 
a  preamble  and  made  some  additions.  At  4  o'clock  the  church 
met  and  approved  the  renewal  of  the  Covenant,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  choose  churches  to  assist  in  ordination.  Agreed 
that  the  ordination  should  be  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  Au- 
gust,  and  appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  letters  missive, 
etc. 

July  1,  3Ion.  This  afternoon  the  parish  had  a  meeting  to 
see  if  they  would  comply  with  the  church  and  make  further 
provision.  They  concluded,  after  much  debate,  not  to  have 
the  ordination  before  the  11th  day  of  September.  A  very 
great  disappointment  to  me,  and  a  real  damage  to  the  parish. 
The  alteration  made  on  account  of  provision. 

Aug.  11,  LorcVs  Bay.  Exchanged  with  Mr.  Treadwell,  of 
Lynn,  who  Avas  gone  to  the  Hamlet,  After  meeting  Mr. 
Williams  (of  Boston)  and  I  walked  up  the  hill  back  of  Mr. 
Treadwell's,  where  we  had  a  fine  view  of  the  bay.  We  saw 
two  men-of-war  standing  in  for  Boston,  Admiral  Montague 
in  the  Captain  of  sixty-four  guns  and  the  Lively  of  twenty- 
four.  The  Admiral's  ship  appeared  very  lofty,  and  made  a 
fine  show  in  the  bay. 

Aug.  12,  Mon.  Went  to  Boston  this  morning.  Between 
3  and  4  o'clock  this  afternoon  the  Admiral  arrived  and  came 
to  an  anchor  just  below  the  Castle.  She  fired  several  times 
as  she  came  up  along,  and  was  saluted  from  the  Castle,  and  from 
the  Beaver  man-of-Avar,  who  lay  down  in  King's  Road.  After 
she  came  to  an  anchor  she  hoisted  a  blue  flag  upon  her  miz- 
zen.  Commodore  Gambler,  Avho  commanded  the  fleet  in  the 
harbor  before  the  Admiral's  arrival,  still  kept  his  flag  up, 
"which  was  red,  flying  upon  his  maintop  gallant  mast.  I  was 
upon  Fort  Hill,  and  saw  the  Admiral  come   up  till  he  came  to 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  33 

an  anchor,  before  which,  he  fired  a  signal  for  all  the  captains 
of  the  other  ships  to  come  on  board  him.  The  barges  im- 
mediately pushed  oflF.  Came  out  of  town  and  arrived  at  the 
city  of  Tiot  (Dedham)  about  9  o'clock. 

Aug.  13,  Tue8.  Minister's  meeting  at  Mr.  Haven's.  Rode 
down  with  Mr.  Balch.  Mr.  Payson,  Mr.  Buckingham,  Mr. 
West,  jSIr.  Prentice,  and  the  Hon,  Samuel  Dexter,  Esq.,  pres- 
ent. Had  a  very  handsome  dinner.  Mr.  Balch  opened  the 
meeting  with  prayer,  and  Mr.  West  closed  it. 

Sciyf.  7,  Sat.  Set  out  for  Ipswich  Hamlet,  expecting  not  to 
return  till  after  ordination. 

Sept.  10,  Tues.  Preparing  for  ordination.  My  friends  ar- 
rived from  Dedham  and  Killingly.  All  the  Council  from  the 
southward  came  in. 

Sept.  11,  Wed.  This  day  Avas  appointed  by  the  church  for 
my  ordination.  A  very  clear,  pleasant  day.  About  10  o'clock 
the  Council  formed  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Wigglesworth,  where 
the  parish  had  made  provision  for  them.  The  Council  consisted 
of  the  pastors  of  ten  churches  and  their  delegates,  viz  :  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Rogers,  of  the  First  Church  in  Ipswich,  Deacon  Low,  Mr. 
Appleton,  and  M.  Crocker,  delegates  ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dana,  of  the 
South  Parish  in  Ipswich,  Deacon  Potter,  Deacon  Foster,  Es- 
quire Appleton,  and  Captain  Smith,  delegates ;  Rev.  Mr.  Jewett, 
of  Rowley,  Deacon  Jewett,  and  Deacon  Mial,  delegates ;  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Parsons,  of  Byfield,  Colonel  Gerrish,  and  Deacon  Cole- 
man, delegates  ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Leslie,  of  Linebrook,  Deacon 
Potter,  Deacon  Chaplin,  and  Mr.  How  delegates ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Payson,  of  Walpole,  Esquire  Clap,  delegate ;  Rev.  Mr.  Balch, 
of  Dedham,  Nathaniel  Sumner,  Esq.,  Deacon  Everett,  and  Mr. 
Jonathan  Dean,  delegates  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Haven,  of  Dedham,  Dea- 
con Richards,  and  Jonathan  Metcalf,  Esq.,  delegates  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Brown,  of  Killingly,  Mr.  Hezekiah  Cutler,  and  'Mr.  Joseph 
Torrey,  delegates ;  Rev.  Mr.  Balch,  of  Mendon,  Mr.  Benson, 
and  Mr.  Wheelock,  delegates.  Every  church  that  wa«  sent  to 
was  represented,  and  all  the  delegates  that  were  expected  met. 
After  prayer  to  God  for  light  and  direction,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rog- 
ers was  chosen  Moderator,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons,  Assistant ; 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Dana,  Clerk. 
3 


34  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

The  votes  of  the  church  giving  me  a  call  to  the  work  of  the 
ministr}',  the  parish's  vote  of  concurrence,  and  my  answer,  were 
called  for  and  read.  Deacon  Patch,  Deacon  "Whipple,  and 
Mr,  Thompson,  who  were  appointed  to  represent  the  church, 
were  called  to  answer  for  them  ;  I  was  likewise  called  to  answer 
for  myself.  The  Council  proceeded  to  hear  the  objections, 
which  two  of  the  church  and  one  of  the  congregation  had 
against  my  settling.  After  giving  them  a  full  hearing,  and 
the  Council's  deliberating  thereon,  it  was  unanimously  [nemine 
contradicente)  voted,  1st,  that  nothing  was  objected  of  any 
Aveight  against  my  doctrines  ;  voted  unanimously,  2d,  that 
nothing  appeared  against  my  moral  character  or  conduct.  I 
then  exhibited  to  the  Council  a  Confession  of  Faith.  Ques- 
tions were  asked  me  concerning  my  faith,  and  with  respect  to 
my  experimental  acquaintance  with  the  great  truths  of  the 
Gospel,  and  my  views  in  undertaking  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try, and  the-  answers  which  I  gave  Avere  satisfactory.  Then, 
the  question  being  put,  it  was  unanimously  voted  that  the  way 
was  clear  to  proceed  to  ordination. 

The  church,  who  had  convened  in  the  chamber,  formed  in 
the  yard  at  the  front  door,  and  walked  first  to  the  Meeting 
House,  two  and  two  ;  I  walked  next,  the  Council  after  me, 
and  then  a  number  of  ministers.  At  the  front  door  of  the 
Meeting  House  the  church  opened  to  the  right  and  left.  I 
walked  in  first  and  opened  the  pulpit  door  for  those  gentlemen 
that  sat  in  the  pulpit. 

The  singers  had  placed  themselves  in  the  front  gallery,  and 
by  my  desrre  they  began  the  solemnity  with  an  anthem.  Then 
Mr.  Brown  made  the  first  prayer ;  Mr.  Balch,  of  Dedham, 
preached  from  2d  Cor.,  5th  Chap.,  18th  verse  :  "And  all  things 
are  of  God,  Avho  hath  reconciled  us  to  Himself  by  Jesus  Christ, 
and  hath  given  to  us  the  ministry  of  reconciliation."  A  very 
good  and  suitable  sermon.  Then  Mr.  Parsons  introduced  the 
ceremony  and  prayed  before  the  charge.  Mr.  Rogers  gave 
the  charge,  Mr.  Payson  prayed  after  the  charge,  and  Mr. 
Leslie  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  Then  I  appointed 
of  the  132d  Psalm,  Mr.  Watts'  version,  from  the  pause  to  the 
end,  four  verses,  common  meter,  to  be  sung.  I  then  gave  no- 
tice that  an   anthem  would  be   sung  after  the    blessing  was 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  35 

given.  Deacon  Patch  then  desired  all  the  ordained  ministers 
to  repair  to  Mrs.  Wigglesworth's  for  refreshment.  I  then  gave 
the  blessing,  and  an  anthem  concluded  the  solemnity.  The 
first  anthem  that  was  sung  was,  "  I  was  glad  when,"  etc.  The 
last,  I  think,  was  called  the  Daughters  of  Judah,  or  the  Daugh- 
ters of  Jerusalem.  All  the  parts  were  conducted  with  great 
decency  and  decorum.  There  were  a  vast  concourse  of  peo- 
ple, the  house  was  thronged  exceedingly ;  the  broad  alley  was 
so  filled  that  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  the  Coun- 
cil got  into  the  Meeting  House.  It  was  judged  that  not  more 
than  half  the  people  Avere  able  to  get  into  the  house.  We  had 
a  very  handsome  entertainment  provided  at  Mrs.  Wiggles- 
worth's.     Mr.  Obediah  Parsons  undertook  the  business. 

I  came  up  from  Madam  Whipple's  in  the  morning,  where  I 
had  boarded  ever  since  I  came  to  the  Hamlet.  In  the  even- 
ing returned  to  Madam  Whipple's ;  I  had  slept  little,  or  none, 
the  night  before,  and  was  now  very  much  fatigued. 

Sej)!.  12,  Thurs.  All  the  Council  that  belonged  to  the  south- 
ward returned,  and  I  went  with  them.  My  father  and  Mr. 
Brown  stopped  in  Boston.  Father  Balch,  Brother  Balch,  and 
I  lodged  in  Roxbury. 

Sept.  15,  Lord's  Day.  Rode  down  and  preached  for  Mr. 
Haven.  In  the  afternoon  returned  and  preached  the  same  ser- 
mon in  Mr.  Balch's  parish.     My  father  at  meeting. 

Sept.  18,  Wed.  The  teams,  with  our  goods,  set  out  this 
morning  for  the  Hamlet.  After  dinner  we  took  our  leave  of 
Father  Balch  and  his  family,  where  we  had  lived  a  long  time 
in  a  very  agreeable  manner,  and  had  received  the  greatest 
kindness  from  them.  Mr.  Moses  Everett  and  Sister  Lucy,  Sis- 
ter Irene,  and  Betsey  Cushing  came  Avith  us.  We  lodged  at 
Cambridge  ;  Mrs.  Cutler  and  I  at  Deacon  Prentice's. 

Sept.  19,  Thurs.  This  morning  we  called  on  Madam  Holy- 
oke,  where  Deacon  Whipple  and  his  wife  were  lodged,  in  or- 
der to  set  out  with  us.  Captain  Dean  and  his  wife,  and  Brother 
Dean  and  his  Avife,  came  this  morning  to  accompany  us  to  Ips- 
wich. There  Avere  six  carriages  in  company.  At  Danvers  Ave 
met  a  considerable  number  of  the  parish,  and  at  Beverly  a 
larger  number,  Avho  came  out  to  meet  us,  and  to  accompany  us 
home.     We  arrived  at  the  Hamlet,  at  Madam  WigglesAvorth's 


36  Lif&  of  Rev.  Uayiasseh  Cidler. 

house,  about  3  o'clock,  where  we  are  to  live  and  where  the 
people  had  provided  a  very  handsome  entertainment.  Soon 
after  our  arrival  our  goods  came.  We  set  them  up  and  then 
sang  a  Psalm.  The  people  show  us  many  marks  of  kindness 
and  respect,     A  I'emarkably  pleasant  day. 

Sept.  22,  LorcVs  Day.  Mr.  Emerson,  of  Reading,  preached 
for  me,  I  conducted  Mrs.  Cutler  to  the  parsonage  pew,  and 
invited  Mrs.  Wigglesworth  to  sit  in  it. 

[Mrs.  Wigglesworth  Avas  the  widow  of  Rev,  Samuel  Wig- 
glesworth, Mr.  Cutler's  predecessor.] 

Sept.  28,  Sat.     Visited  sick.     Sat  up  almost  all  night  to  get 

prepared  for  the  Sabbath. 

Sep.  29,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  the  first  time  after  ordina- 
tion. Esquire  Mansfield,  Mr.  Lancaster,  Mr.  Sewell,  Professor 
of  Languages,  and  lady,  and  many  other  strangers,  were  at 
meeting.  A  very  full  assembly.  After  meeting  Mr.  Mans- 
field and  Mr.  Sewell  and  lady,  drank  tea  at  our  house.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lancaster  called. 

Oct.  3,  TJmrs.  The  young  ladies  of  the  parish  came  to  visit 
us,  and  presented  me  half  a  dozen  bands. 

Oct.  4,  Fri.  Appointed  this  day  to  catechise  the  children, 
and  they  met  at  half  after  three  o'clock  at  the  Meeting  House  ; 
about  sixty  in  number. 

Oct.  6,  Lords  Day.  Preached.  Two  persons  received  the 
Covenant,  and  an  infant  of  Paul  Dodge's  baptized.  The  first 
time  that  I  administered  the  Covenant,  or  the  ordinance  of 
baptism. 

Oct.  8,  Tues.  Received  the  Salem  paper  and  the  Boston 
Gazette  by  the  Post. 

Nov.  10,  LorcVs  Day.  I  preached  at  Salem,  at  Mr.  Barnard's 
Meeting  House.  A  full  congregation.  The  Superior  Court 
was  then  sitting.  The  most  of  the  judges  and  gentlemen  of 
the  law  were  at  that  meeting,  Mr,  Lancaster  preached 
for  me, 

Nov.  14,  Fri.  In  Boston  with  Mrs,  Cutler.  Took  the  Gos- 
pel Magazine, 

Nov.  20,  Wed.  Much  engaged.  Married  the  first  couple  I 
ever  joined  together. 

Nov.  21,  Thurs.   General  Thanksgiving  through  the  Province. 


Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler.  37 

I  did  not  read  the  Proclamation  in  the  morning,  on  account  of 
some  exceptional  clauses,  but  had  read  it  the  Sabbath  before. 
Began  the  solemnity  with  an  anthem;  made  a  short  prayer  for 
the  Divine  blessing  and  suitable  frame  of  spirit,  then  sang, 
then  prayer  and  thanksgiving,  then  sang  and  preached  as  usual. 
Sang  after  prayer,  concluding  the  solemnity  with  two  anthems. 

Hov.  22,  Fri.  Mr.  Murray  preached  a  lecture  at  10  o'clock- 
A  vast  concourse  of  people,  supposed  to  be  at  least  3,000. 
Mr.  Cleaveland  with  him,  and  sat  in  the  pulpit.  Mr.  Murray 
and  Mr.  Cleaveland,  Mr.  Maxwell  and  lady  dined  with  us. 
After  dinner  Messrs.  Swain,  Hitchcock,  Barnard,  and  Mans- 
field to  see  me.  Sent  my  horse  and  chaise  to  Boston  for  Mr. 
Robert  Williams  and  lady,  who  arrived  this  evening. 

Dee.  5,  Thurs.  Lecture.  Mr.  Hitchcock  preached.  He 
and  his  lady  and  Mr.  Dana  dined  with  us.  Mr.  Swain  came  in 
after  meeting  began. 

Dee.  6,  Fri.  Very  stormy,  snow  fell  a  considerable  depth, 
and  very  much  drifted.  Was  to  go  and  preach  Mr.  Hitch- 
cock's lecture,  but  the  storm  prevented. 

Dec.  20,  Fri.     A  great  deal  of  company. 

Dec.  21,  *S'a^.     Studied. 

Dec.  22,  Lord's  Day.  Was  forced  to  preach  an  old  sermon  ; 
took  the  first  I  preached  here.  This  is  the  first  time  I  ever 
repeated  a  sermon  to  the  people. 

Dec.  20,  Fri.  Preached  at  lecture  at  Mr.  Kings,  on  account  of 
old  Mrs.  Fellows,  who  has  been  unable  to  come  to  meeting  for 
a  long  time. 


38  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 


CHAPTER   II. 

Parish    Lifk — Kevolutioxauy    War — Chait.aix — ExpKniTiox   to    Rhode 

ISLAXl) StUDIKS    AXD    PRACTICES    MeD  CIXE. 

3Iar.  4,  1772,  Wed.  Parish  Meeting,  Voted  to  make  use 
of  Dr.  Watts'  Psalms  and  Hymns,  and  voted  to  revive  the 
Contribution  (which  had  been  discontinued  since  1763).  Mr- 
Justice  Appleton,  from  town  to  swear  the  officers,  visited  me. 
I  was  sent  for  to  open  the  Meeting  with  prayer. 

Mar.  26,  Thurs.  Stormy.  At  Mr.  Rogers'  lecture.  Very 
bad  riding.     I  preached. 

Apr.  2,  Thurs.  Annual  fast.  Preached.  Full  congrega- 
tion. 

Apr.  6,  Mon.  Dr.  Adams,  ^rom  Cape  Cod,  to  see  me. 
Rode  to  town  and  attended  Inferior  Court.  Heard  Mr.  Jus- 
tice Cushing  give  the  charge  to  the  grand  jury.  Very  ex- 
traordinary. 

Apr.  12,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached.  Sacrament.  Six  bap- 
tisms. 

Apr.  15,  Wed.     Marking  out  my  garden. 

May  14,  Thurs.     At  Robert  Dodge's,  at  a  raising. 

May  15,  Fri.  John  Whipple,  the  third,  went  to  Boston  for 
the  Psalm  Books,  which  the  parish  agreed  to  furnish  them- 
selves with,  being  about  120  in  number. 

3Liy  18,  3Ion.  This  day  the  wufe  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dana  was 
buried.  She  departed  this  life,  after  a  long  state  of  languish- 
ment,  in  the  28th  year  of  her  age.  The  bearers  were  Mr. 
Jewett,  Mr.  Chandler,  Mr.  Parsons,  Mr.  Cleaveland,  Mr.  Les- 
lie, and  myself.     Mrs.  Cutler  attended  the  funeral  with  me. 

3Iay  24,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached  sermons  Nos.  63  and  64, 
by  the  desire  of  some  of  the  parish  who  had  heard  them  before. 

May  27,  Wed.  Election  of  Councillors.  Mr.  Williams  and 
I  rode  from  Boston  over  to  Cambridge.  Dined  Avith  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  in  public.  In  the  library.  Returned  to 
Boston. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  39 

3Iay  28,  Thurs.     At  Convention.     Dined  at  Mr.  Howard's. 

June  4,  Thurs.  (in  Boston).  The  Regiment  mustered. 
King's  birthday.  The  Admiral's  ship  dressed  in  colors.  The 
troop,  twelve  companies,  one  of  Grenadiers,  and  one  of  Artil- 
lery, marched  from  the  Common  to  King's  Street,  where  they 
fired  volleys  ;  made  a  handsome  appearance. 

June  9,  Tues.  The  young  women,  twenty-three  in  number, 
came  to  spin,  and  brought  materials.  They  spun  forty-two 
and  a  half  skeins  of  linen,  worsted,  and  tow-yarn,  which  they 
gave  to  Mrs.  Cutler. 

Jtcne  11,  Thurs.  Raised  my  barn.  Sent  to  every  house  in 
the  parish  an  invitation  to  come  to  the  raising.  A  great  num- 
ber of  people  came.     We  provided  a  handsome  supper. 

July  1,  Wed.  Preached  Mr.  Emerson's  lecture  at  Tops- 
field.     Captain  Cummings  with  me. 

July  15,  Wed.  At  Cambridge.  Saw  many  of  my  old 
friends.     Pretty  good  Commencement. 

July  25,  >S'a/.  Studied  very  hard.  This  evening  a  very 
remarkable  Northern  Light.  A  remarkably  bright  stream  in 
the  west,  which  ran  up  from  the  horizon  almost  to  the  zenith. 
The  light  was  also  in  the  east,  where  it  kept  in  constant  mo- 
tion, like  the  waves  of  the  sea,  the  waves  as  plainly  to  be  seen 
as  at  sea  in  a  storm. 

Aug.  2,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached  to  the  young  people ;  a 
pretty  full  assembly. 

Aug.  4,  Tues.  At  Ministers'  Meeting  at  Mr.  Holt's.  Mr. 
Dunbar  preached.  A  new  scheme.  A  very  great  number  of 
ministers  present. 

Aug.  8,  Sat.  (at  home).  Mr.  Walley  and  his  Avife,  from 
Boston,  came  to  keep  Sabbath.  This  evening  the  most  ter- 
rible thunderstorm  I  ever  knew.  It  began  about  11  o'clock, 
and  continued  one  hour  and  a  half.  The  lightning  was  almost 
incessant  and  very  sharp,  and  the  claps  of  thunder  very  hard. 
We  all  got  up,  and  Mr.  Walley  made  a  prayer.  The  storm 
abated  before  1  o'clock.  The  Avind  Avas  very  moderate,  and 
the  rain  not  extreme. 

Ally.  9,  Lord's  Lay.  Mr.  Walley  preached.  I  made  the 
first  prayer,  and  took  particular  notice  of  the  thunderstorm 
by  beginning  public  Avorship  Avith  a  psalm  peculiarly  suited  to 


40  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

the  occasion,  and  also  in  my  prayer.  Mr.  Walley  did  the 
same. 

Aug.  13,  Timrs.  My  lecture.  A  good  deal  of  company. 
Dr.  Whittaker  preached.  Father  Balch,  Mr.  Swain,  Mr.  Dana, 
and  Mr.  Hitchcock  present.  Dr.  Whittaker's  lady  and  Miss 
Dodge,  from  town,  Mr.  Lancaster  and  his  w4fe,  from  Beverly, 
at  meeting,  and  drank  tea. 

Sept.  7,  Mon.  Visited  about  the  parish.  This  evening 
friends  came  from  Dedham — Dr.  Barker,  Mr.  Moses  Everett? 
and  Andrew  Everett. 

Sept.  18,  Fri.  Dr.  Rust  and  his  lad^^  Mr.  Savage  and  his 
lady,  to  visit  us  from  Salem.  Walked  upon  Brown's  Hill,  and 
had  a  fine  look  out.  Could  see  the  Isle  of  Shoals  very  plain 
with  the  glass. 

Sept.  22,  Tues.  Mrs.  Cutler  and  I  visited  at  Mr.  Champ- 
ney's  and  Mr.  Chipman's,  in  Beverly. 

Oct.  10,  Sat.  The  late  extraordinary  rains  occasioned  a 
very  great  freshet,  a  vast  deal  of  hay  lost,  and  all  the  salt  hay 
much  damaged.  So  rainy  a  season  in  the  latter  part  of  sum- 
mer and  early  fall  is  scarcely  to  be  remembered  by  the  oldest 
men. 

Nov.  11,  Wed.  Attended  Mr.  Obediah  Parsons'  ordination 
with  ni}^  delegates,  Deacons  Patch  and  Whipple,  and  Mr. 
Samuel  Brown.  The  Council  convened  at  Mr.  Norwood's,  and 
appointed  me  to  begin  with  prayer.  Mr.  Parsons,  of  Byfield, 
preached  from  2d  Cor.  3 :  6.  Mr.  Chandler  gave  the  charge. 
Mr.  Cleaveland  prayed  after  the  charge,  and  Mr.  Rogers  gave 
the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  An  Anthem  began  and  con- 
cluded the  solemnity. 

Jan.  1,  1773.  Studied.  Invited  to  sup  with  Mr.  Robert 
Dodge.     A  very  handsome  supper. 

Jan.  5,  Tues.  At  Salem  ;  remarkably  pleasant ;  many  peo- 
ple plowing.     Mr.  Paul  Dodge  buried. 

Jan.  13,  Wed.  Mrs.  Cutler  and  I  went  to  Salem  to  attend 
]\Ir.  Barnard's  ordination.  A  very  clear,  cold  day.  A  great 
concourse  of  people. 

Feb.  11,  Thurs.     At  Mr.  Chandler's  lecture,  New  Rowley. 


Life  of  Rev.  Blanasseh  Cutler.  41 

Preached ;    a   number  of  my    old    friends    from    Boxford    to 
hear  me. 

Feb.  21,  Lord'' 8  Bay.  A  remarkably  cold  day.  But  few 
people  at  meeting,  and  most  of  them  were  frozen  in  some  of 
the  extremities  of  the  body.  .  v 

Feb.  22,  Mon.  Extremely  cold  last  night.  Many  persons  ^  ' 
were  alarmed  by  frequent  noises  and  concussions,  much  re- 
sembling earthquake.  Was  very  sensible  of  one  myself.  I 
heard  a  loud  noise,  like  the  falling  of  a  large  stick  of  timber, 
and  there  was  a  shaking  of  my  bed  at  the  same  time.  The 
noise  and  the  shaking  were  over  in  an  instant  of  time.  The 
people  observed  in  many  places  in  the  ground  and  hard  snow 
(which  was  about  six  inches  deep  and  very  hard,  sufficient  to 
bear  a  team),  where  large  and  extensive  cracks  appeared,  much 
like  those  in  a  pond  of  thick  ice,  toward  the  spring.  These  ^ 
appearances  seem  to  account  for  the  noises  and  concussions. 
From  the  Essex  Gazette  we  learn  that  yesterday,  at  2  o'clock 
P.  M.,  the  mercury  in  Fahrenheit's  thermometer  stood  at  5 
degrees  below  zero,  which  shows  the  cold  to  have  been  more 
severe  than,  perhaps,  ever  was  known  with  us  at  that  time  of 
day.  This  morning,  at  half  an  hour  after  sunrise,  the  mer- 
cury had  descended  to  about  9|^  degrees  below  zero,  which  is 
41 1-  degrees  below  the  freezing  point.  This  day  visited  sundry 
sick. 

Feb.  28,  Lord^s  Day.  Pleasant,  much  like  the  spring  of  the 
year.  Preached  without  my  cloak,  a  remarkable  alteraiton  in 
the  weather  since  last  Sabbath.     A  pretty  full  meeting. 

Mar.  12,  Fri.  Baptized  a  very  sick  child  of  Josiah  Poland, 
at  his  house. 

Apr.  15,  Thurs.  General  fast.  Preached.  A  very  full 
meetmg.     Several  strangers. 

May  27,  Thiers.  Attended  Convention  at  Boston.  Dined 
at  Mr.  Mathers'. 

June  8,  Tues.  Attended  ministers'  meeting  at  Mr.  Hale's, 
Newbury.  Mr.  Dana  and  I  went  and  returned  together. 
Took  a  view  of  Mr.  Dalton'.s  country-seat — very  elegant. 
Went  up  to  the  walk  on  the  top  of  the  house,  where  we  had  a 
most  extensive  and  agreeable  prospect.  Mr.  Leslie  preached 
the  lecture,  afternoon. 


42  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

June  10,  Thurs.  Mr.  Howe,  from  Boston,  to  visit  me. 
[Rev.  Joseph  Howe,  a  classmate  at  Yale.]  We  attended  Mr. 
Dana's  lecture.  Mr.  Howe  preached  a  very  refined,  agreeable 
sermon.  After  lecture,  Mr.  Howe  set  out  on  his  way  to  Ports- 
mouth. 

June  14,  3Ion.  Mr.  Howe  returned  with  Mr.  Quincy,  but 
did  not  tarry. 

June  15,  Tues.  The  Superior  Court  passed  by  in  their  Avay 
to  town,  attended  by  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  and  a  number 
of  his  under  sheriffs. 

June  22,  Tues.  Dr.  Whitney  and  I  invited  by  Esq.  Jewett 
to  attend  the  launching  of  a  sloop,  which  we  did.  Dined  at 
IMr.  Treadwell's.  Mr.  Jewett  and  Mr.  Lancaster  present. 
At  evening,  attended  a  funeral. 

July  10,  Sat.  Two  very  fine  showers  of  rain.  Thunder 
very  hard.  Struck  a  tree  in  the  parsonage  lot,  quite  near  the 
Ijouse.  Mr.  Tappan,  of  Manchester,  and  Mr.  Wadsworth,  of 
Danvers,  came  to  seek  a  change.  Mr.  Tappan  went  to  Dan- 
vers  ;  Mr.  Wadsworth  tarried  here.  I  concluded  to  preach  for 
Mr.  Leslie  ;  Mr.  Leslie  was  to  preach  for  Mr.  Adams,  of  Haver- 
hill ;  Mr.  iVdams,  for  Mr.  Peabody ;  Mr.  Peabody,  for  Mr. 
Tenny,  of  Barrington ;  and  Mr.  Tenny,  for  Mr.  Tappan. 

July  19,  3Ion.  Visited  about  the  parish.  Catechised  the 
children. 

July  22,  Thurs.  Went  to  Boston.  Attended  Convention. 
The  Convention  received  a  vote  of  a  Committee  appointed  at 
the  Annual  Convention  to  make  a  draft  of  what  appeared  to 
be  the  true  meaning  and  intention  of  the  Platform  respecting 
church  order  and  discipline,  and  what  had  been  the  sense  in 
which  the  churches  had  conceived  and  practiced.  The  report 
being  twice  read,  first  through  in  course,  and  then  paragraph 
by  paragraph,  it  was  unanimously  voted,  N.  C.  D.  Attended 
lecture  at  the  Old  Brick.  Mr.  Bacon  preached  an  high  ortho- 
dox sermon.  Dined  at  Dr.  Pemberton's,  and  came  home  in 
the  evening. 

Sept.  12,  Lord's  Day.  Very  stormy.  Had  prepared  to 
preach  upon  the  duty  of  reading  the  Scriptures,  but  the 
stormy  weather    prevented  many   of   the   people    from   com- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  43 

ing  to  meeting,  so  that  I  conckided  to  leave  the  subject 
until  the  next  Sabbath,  and  preached  old  sermons. 

Oct.  17,  Lord's  Day.  Preached.  Very  much  alarmed  at  a 
remarkable  breaking-out  upon  Parker  Dodge,  supposed  to  be 
the  small-pox.  As  I  was  in  imminent  danger,  supposed  I  had 
taken  it. 

Oct.  18,  Mon.  It  was  confirmed  by  Dr.  Manning  that 
Dodge,  who  died  last  night,  had  the  small-pox.  So  much  sur- 
prised, that  I  concluded  to  go  to  Essex  Hospital,*  which  is  to 
be  opened  this  day  for  receiving  patients.  Set  out  with  Dr. 
Whitney  and  Mr.  Robert  Dodge,  and  went  down  in  a  boat 
from  Beverly  to  Cat  Island,  where  the  Hospital  is  erected. 
Arrived  about  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Went  up  to  the 
Hospital,  and  found  Dr.  Jackson  and  Mr.  Gerry,  who  gave  me 
encouragement  that  I  should  have  a  berth.  I  should  have 
been  inoculated,  but  the  doctor  had  not  brought  down  his 
bandages.  He  gave  us  physic,  and  promised  to  come  from 
Marblehead  early  in  the  morning,  and  inoculate  us. 

Oct.  19,  Tues.  This  morning  very  rainy.  Sent  for  Dr. 
Jackson.  He  came  about  11  o'clock.  I  should  then  have 
been  inoculated,  but  Mr.  Gerry  would  not  consent  to  have  any 
matter  opened,  until  all  were  gone  from  the  Island  who  were 
going  that  night.  The  people,  by  this  time  arrived  in  several 
vessels  from  Marblehead,  and  thronged  the  Hospital.  As  I 
was  not  a  signer,  I  had  no  right  to  plead  for  a  berth,  and 
presently  found  I  could  not  be  accommodated,  and  was  obliged, 
after  I  had  taken  physic,  to  go  off  the  Island.  Got  to  Marble- 
head about  sunset,  and  came  to  Mr.  Balch's,  at  New  Mills,  and 
tarried  with  him. 


*  The  Hospital  at  Cat  Island  was  erected  by  Azer  Orne,  Jonathan 
Glover,  John  Glover,  and  Elbridge  Gerry,  of  Marblehead.  Dr.  Hall 
Jackson,  an  eminent  physician  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  who  had  dis- 
tinguished success  in  treating  small-pox,  was  appointed  superintend 
ent,  and,  October  IGth,  entered  upon  his  duties.  The  people  of 
Marblehead,  apprehending  that  the  dread  disease,  by  means  of  the 
Hospital,  might  become  a  pestilence  among  them,  were  violently  op- 
posed to  it;  and  a  party  of  men  completely  disguised,  on  the  night  of 
January  26,  1774,  went  to  the  Island  and  set  fire  to  the  Hospital,  which 
had  been  temporarily  closed,  and  the  buildings,  with  their  contents, 
were  destroyed.     See  Hoad's  Hist.  Marblehead. 


44  Life  of  Rev.  Blanasseh  Cutler. 

Oct.  21,  TJmrs.     About  the  parish  among  the  sick. 

Oct.  26.     Visited  a  number  sick  with  a  fever. 

Oct.  31,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  to  a  very  full  meeting.  A 
great  many  notes. 

Nov.  10.  Wed.  Attended  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Swain.  A 
larffe  funeral.  Mrs.  Cutler  went  with  me.  Mr.  Willard 
prayed.  Mr.  Willard,  myself,  Mr.  Hitchcock,  Mr.  Parsons, 
Mr.  Miller,  and  Deacon  Kimball  Avere  pall-bearers.  Mr.  Tap- 
pan  and  the  ministers  in  Salem  were  sent  to,  but  did  not 
come.  After  we  returned  from  the  grave  to  the  house,  we 
had  a  supper  of  cold  provision,  and  a  glass  of  wine,  which 
was  provided  by  the  people.  The  town  (Wenham)  was  so 
generous  as  to  bear  the  expense  of  Mrs.  Swain's  funeral. 

Nov.  11,  Thurs.  Dr.  Whitney  returned  this  evening  from 
the  Hospital  at  Cat  Island,  in  perfect  health ;  likewise  Mr. 
Robert  Dodge,  having  had  the  small-pox  very  light. 

Nov.  25,  Thurs.  Annual  Thanksgiving.  Brother  Balcli 
and  sister,  Mr.  Moses  Brown,  Mr.  O'Brien,  and  Miss  Hannah 
Balch,  kept  Thanksgiving  with  us.  Preached  ;  and,  after  the 
exercise,  the  people  had  a  contribution  for  the  poor,  and  there 
appeared  to  be  a  very  handsome  collection. 

Dec.  21-23,  Thurs.  Studied  hard,  and  finished  both  my 
sermons. 

Dec.  25,  Sat.  Dr.  Whitney  went  with  me  to  Church  in 
Salem.  Mr.  Gilchrist  preached  in  the  morning,  and  Mr. 
Nichols  in  the  afternoon.  Dined  at  Dr.  Rust's.  A  warm, 
pleasant  Christmas. 

Dec.  26,  Lord's  Day.     Preached  a  Christmas  sermon. 

Dec.  27,  Mon.  This  evening  Mr.  Asa  Everett  came  from 
Dedham  with  the  melancholy  news  that  Mr.  Balch  was  danger- 
ously sick. 

Jan.  8,  1774,  Sat.  This  day  my  honored  father,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Balch,  departed  this  life,  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  in 
the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age,  and  the  thirty-eighth  of  his 
ministry.  An  irreparable  loss  to  his  family  and  friends,  and 
much  lamented  by  his  people.  He  left  a  sorrowful  widow  and 
seven  children  to  lament  his  exit. 

Jan.  13,  Thurs.     This  day  the  Rev.  Mr.  Balch  was  interred. 


Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler.  45 

The  parish  buried  him  in  a  very  honorable  manner.  Eight 
ministers  Avere  appointed  as  pall-bearers,  and  four  undcr- 
bearers,  or  porters.  He  was  carried  from  his  own  house  to 
the  Meeting  House.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Dunbar  prayed,  then  two 
hymns  in  the  Funeral  Thoughts  were  sung ;  then  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Payson  prayed.  The  coffin  was  then  opened,  and  all  the 
people  had  an  opportunity  to  see  the  corpse  ;  after  which  the 
funeral  procession  began,  and  was  very  long.  The  sexton 
went  first,  then  the  Church,  then  the  body,  then  the  mourners 
and  friends,  then  the  parish,  then  strangers.  I  Avas  unable 
(from  a  severe  attack  of  pneumonia)  to  go  out,  but  ventured 
down  to  see  the  corpse,  before  it  was  c&rried  out  of  the  house. 

Feb.  24,  Thurs.  Fast  at  town  on  account  of  small-pox.  I 
was  sent  for,  and  attended. 

Mar.  1,  Tites.  Visited  the  people.  This  day  received  the 
first  number  of  the  Royal  American  Magazine. 

Mar.  17,  Thurs.  Preached  a  lecture  at  Deacon  Whipple's, 
by  the  desire  of  his  daughter,  Hannah,  who,  for  a  long  time, 
has  been  detained  from  meeting  on  account  of  the  ill  state  of 
her  health.  A  full  meeting.  [These  lectures  were  continued 
weekly  for  forty  years.] 

Mar.  22,  Tues.     Attended  Judge  Ropes'  funeral,  at  Salem. 

Mar.  27,  Lord's  Day.  Preached.  Sacrament,  A  full 
meeting.  Proposed  to  the  Church  to  read  a  portion  of  Scrip- 
ture at  the  beginning  of  public  worship. 

April  3,  Lord's  Bay.  Began  to  read  the  Scriptures.  Read 
the  first  Psalm  in  the  morning,  and  the  first  chapter  of  Mat- 
thew in  the  afternoon.  Esq.  Mansfield,  of  Marblehead,  dined 
with  us. 

Apr.  19,  Tnes.  Received  the  melancholy  news  of  the  death 
of  my  honored  mother.  She  departed  this  life  on  the  8th 
inst.  after  a  very  short  illness.  Blessed  are  they  that  die  in 
the  Lord. 

Apr.  20,  Wed.     Set  out  for  my  father's. 

Apr.  24,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached  at  Killingly  to  a  very  at- 
tentive and  much  affected  congregation. 

3Iay  4,  Wed.  Madam  Holyoke  came  to  visit  us.  Dr. 
Cooper  and  lady,  of  Boston,  here. 

3Iay  8,  Lord's  Lay.     Preached    to    a   large    congregation. 


46  Life  of  Rev.  Manassch  Cutler. 

Began  to  read  in  the  large  folio  Bible  presented  to  the  church 
and  parish  by  Madam  Whipple. 

May  10,  Tiies.  Attended  the  funeral  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jewett, 
of  Rowley.  Mr.  Hale  made  a  prayer  in  the  Meeting  House, 
the  corpse  being  in  the  broad  alley.  Mr.  Chandler  preached  a 
sermon,  and  Mr.  Parsons  made  a  speech  at  the  grave. 

June  30,  Thurs.  Fast  on  account  of  the  melancholv  situ- 
ation  of  our  public  affairs.  A  very  full  meeting.  Carried  on 
the  whole  exercise  myself. 

July  5,  Tues.  Minister's  meeting  at  Wenham.  Mr.  Ad- 
ams, of  Roxbury,  preached  a  very  honest,  serious,  good  ser- 
mon. A  very  fine  dinner.  The  tAvo  Mr.  Barnards,  Mr.  Dunbar, 
Mr.  Willard,  and  Mr.  Hitchcock,  present. 

July  14,  Thurs.  Fast  in  most  of  the  towns  in  the  Prov- 
ince. In  the  afternoon  rode  to  Topsfield  to  attend  the  funeral 
of  Mr.  Emerson.  Mr.  Leslie  and  Mr.  Holyoke  Avere  applied 
to  for  assistance  in  their  fast,  and  the  funeral  was  attended 
after  these  exercises  were  over.  A  great  number  of  people 
present.     The  bearers  had  gloves  and  Aveeds. 

Aug.  7,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached  at  Beverly  for  Mr.  "Willard. 
This  day  Madam  Whipple  departed  this  life.  One  of  my  best 
friends  in  the  parish. 

Aug.  9,  Tues.  Madam  Whipple  buried.  The  largest  funeral 
and  attended  Avith  the  most  solemnity  and  good  order  of  any 
person's  that  has  yet  been  buried  in  this  place  since  my  set- 
tlement. She  Avas  laid  in  the  tomb  Avhere  Major  Epes  and  his 
family  are  laid,  and  Deacon  Whipple,  har  consort. 

Aug.  10,  Wed.     Went  to  Salem  to  prove  her  Avill. 

Sept.  1,  Thurs.  In  Boston.  Viewed  the  regiments  on  the 
Common  and  Fort  Hill. 

Sept.  2,  Fri.  Returned  home  by  AAay  of  Cambridge,  in  or- 
der to  see  the  vast  number  of  country  people,  Avho  Avere  assem- 
bling at  Cambridge  in  consequence  of  the  poAvder,  in  the 
Arsenal  at  Medford,  being  seized  by  the  Governor.  There 
Avere  about  4,000  men. 

Sejjt.  6,  Tues.  The  County  Congress  sat  at  IpsAvich.  Went 
over  to  hear  the  debates.  They  made  a  very  handsome  ap- 
pearance. 

Sept.  26,  3Ion.     Mrs.   Cutler   and  I  set   out  for  Dedham. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  47 

We  passed  through  Boston,  and  observed  the  intrcnchments 
the  sokliers  were  throwing  up,  upon  the  Neck,  to  defend  them- 
selves against  the  country  people. 

Sept.^  27,  Tues.  Brother  Balch  and  I  rode  to  Dorchester  to 
attend  Mr.  Everett's  ordination. 

Sept.  28,  Wed.  This  day  Mr.  Moses  Everett*  was  or- 
dained. The  Council  sat  at  Dr.  Holden's.  It  consisted  of 
ten  churches.  Mr.  Bobbins  began  with  prayer,  IMr.  Haven 
preached,  Mr.  Dunbar  gave  the  charge.  Dr.  Cooper  made  the 
concluding  prayer,  and  Dr.  Eliot  gave  the  right  hand  of  fel- 
lowship.    Fine  day  and  large  concourse  of  people. 

Oct.  4,  Tues.  I  attended  the  Council  at  Chebacco  with  the 
delegates  of  our  chvirch.  The  Council  adjourned  to  this  day 
three  weeks. 

Oct.  25,  Tues.     The  Council  sat  again  at  Chebacco. 

Oct.  26,  Wed.  The  Council  convened  again,  and  finally 
united  the  two  churches  in  Chebacco  into  one,  and  gave  them 
the  right  hand  of  fellowship. 

Dec.  8,  Thiers.  Training  Lieutenant  Bobert  Dodge's  com- 
pany. I  marched  over  Avitli  the  company  and  dined  with 
him. 

Dec.  15,  Thurs.  Thanksgiving  appointed  by  the  Provincial 
Congress,  and  not  by  the  Governor.  A  proclamation  or  re- 
solve from  them  was  sent  to  all  the  ministers  in  the  Pr.ovince. 
A  wet,  lowering  day.  A  contribution  made  for  the  j)Oor.  In 
the  evening  attended  three  weddings. 

Jan.  19,  1775,  Thurs.  Captain  Patch  made  an  entertain- 
ment for  his  company.  Mrs.  Cutler  and  I  were  invited.  A 
very  fine  entertainment. 

Jan.  25,  Wed.  A  lady  came  to  our  house,  Avho  has  made 
a  great  noise  in  the  country,  and  has  been  the  occasion  of 
various  conjectures.  She  calls  herself  Carolina  Augusta 
Harriet,  Duchess  of  Brownstonburges.  Says  she  has  resided 
in  the  Court  of  England  for  several  years  ;  that  she  eloped 
from  the  Palace  of  St.  James.     She  appears   to  be  a  person 


*  Rev.  Moses  Everett,  of  Dorchester,  graduated  in  1771  at  Harvard 
University.  He  married  November  24,  1774,  Miss  Lucy  Balch,  of  Ded- 
ham,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Cutler.     Mr.  Everett  died  March  25,  1813. 


48  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

of  an  extraordinary  education,  and  well  acquainted  with 
things  at  Court,  but  she  is  generally  supposed  to  be  an  im- 
poster. 

Jan.  28,  S'at.  Our  extraordinary  visitor  left  us,  I  conveyed 
her  to  town  in  a  chaise. 

March  21,  Tues.  Attended  the  funeral  of  Rev.  Mr.  Chip- 
man,  of  Beverly. 

[There  are  many  gaps  in  the  Journal  from  torn  or  lost 
leaves.  Such  a  one  occurs  here,  and  only  a  part  of  the  rec- 
ord of  the  memorable  19th  of  April  remains.] 

toward  the  army.  At  sunset  we  got  almost  into 
Cambridge,  and  met  with  our  people  just  after  they  fired  their 
last  gun.  The  British  fought  upon  a  retreat  from  Concord  to 
Cambridge,  where  they  had  boats  to  take  them  on  board  for 
Boston.  It  is  not  known  how  many  were  killed  on  either 
side.  Mr.  Willard  and  I  went  to  College,  and  from  thence  to 
Mr.  Holyoke's,  where  we  lodged. 

Apr.  20,  Thurs.  A  vast  number  of  men  in  Cambridge, 
and  coming  in  from  all  quarters.  We  went  to  Metomeny  to 
see  the  dead.  The  regulars  lay  principally  in  the  streets,  but 
our  men  in  houses  and  barns.  It  was  supposed  that  about 
30  provincials  and  50  regulars  were  killed.  In  the  afternoon 
we  returned  home.  Mr.  Jackson  and  Brother  Balch  and  fam- 
ily came  to  our  house. 

Ajjr.  21,  Fri.  Set  out  for  Cambridge  again.  Rode  to 
Newell's,  in  Lynn.  Upon  hearing  that  the  soldiers  Avere  mak- 
ing such  movements  that  it  was  thought  that  they  would  strike 
upon  Salem  or  Marblehead  we  returned.  This  night  an  alarm 
from  Ipswich,  but  nothing  more. 

Mat/  1,  3Ion.  Dr.  Whitney  marched  to  Cambridge  with  his 
company. 

3Iay  2,  Tues.  Mr.  Balch  and  I  rode  to  Cambridge.  Saw 
the  Stockbridge  Indians  burn  the  head  of  General  Gage  upon 
the  green.  Rode  to  Roxbury,  and  lodged  at  Dr.  Holden's  at 
Dorchester. 

Mat/  3,  Wed.  This  morning  viewed  Boston  from  Dorchester 
Hill.  Saw  the  Regulars  at  work  fortifying  Beacon  Hill  and 
the  Neck.  We  came  to  Roxbury,  and  Avent  as  far  as  the 
Georges  Tavern.     The  Regular  sentinels  and  ours  were  about 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  49 

forty  rods  asunder.     Came  to  Cambridge  and  spent  the  after- 
noon.    Lodged  at  Watertown. 

3Iay  4,  Tliurs.    Came  home.    Not  much  disposed  for  study. 

May  7,  LorcVs  Day.     Preached  all  day. 

May  8,  Mon.  By  this  time  we  obtained  an  exact  account 
of  the  number  of  the  Provincials  that  were  killed  and  wounded 
in  the  battle  of  the  19th  ultimo  :  40  killed  and  20  wounded. 
The  number  of  Recrulars  that  went  out  was  800  in  the  first 
brigade,  and  1,200  in  the  second,  who  met  the  first  at  Lexing- 
ton. It  is  pretty  certain  that  near  300  Regulars  were  taken, 
killed,  or  wounded,  and  many  more  were  surfeited,  so  that 
their  loss  upon  the  whole  is  said  to  be  at  least  500.  It  is  not 
supposed  that  more  than  300  of  our  men  were  actually  en- 
gaged in  battle  at  a  time  for  the  whole  day,  but  yet  the  Regu- 
lars, who  had  two  field  pieces,  fled  Avith  surprising  precipita- 
tion. They  took  only  two  prisoners,  but  what  they  killed  or 
let  go  again. 

May  10,  Wed.  This  day  the  grand  Continental  Congress 
meets  at  Philadelphia. 

May  11,  Thurs.  This  day  set  apart  as  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer  by  a  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress.  I 
preached  in  the  morning,  and  Mr.  Balch  in  the  afternoon. 

3Iay  18,  Thurs.  Lecture.  Mr.  Swain  preached.  ■  Mr. 
Hitchcock  present.     Dr.  Whitney  returned  from  the  army. 

3Iay  29,  Monday.  Mr.  Balch,  Mr.  Williams,  and  I  set  out 
for  Cambridge.  Went  to  Winnissimet  to  see  the  marks  of  the 
late  action  between  our  men  and  the  regular  troops,  which 
happened  the  Saturday  night  before,  when  our  people  drove 
a  number  of  the  Regulars  from  Noddle's  Island,  beat  off  a 
sloop,  and  burnt  a  schooner  at  the  Ferry-ways.  There  was 
no  loss  on  our  side,  which  was  very  remarkable.  It  is  said 
the  enemy  lost  about  200.  We  had  only  four  men  wounded. 
We  lodged  this  night  at  Mystic. 

3Iay  30.  Rode  to  Cambridge.  Viewed  the  intrenchments 
and  fortifications,  which  appear  very  well.  Had  the  honor  of 
dining  with  General  Pomeroy,  General  Putnam,  General 
Whitcomb,  and  several  other  officers  of  the  -army.  After 
dinner  rode  to  Dedham,  and  lodged  at  Madam  Balch's. 
4 


50  Life  of  Rev.  3IanasseJi  Cutler. 

3Icnj  31,  Wednesday.  Came  to  Watertown,  where  Dr. 
Langdon  preached  a  sermon  to  the  Congress,  being  the  anni- 
versary of  the  annual  election  of  Councillors.  A  very  good 
sermon.  A  handsome  entertainment  was  provided  for  the 
ministers  at  Mrs.  Coolidcre's.  After  dinner  the  Convention 
sat  and  voted  to  supply  the  army  with  chaplains,  but  did  not 
fix  upon  the  mode.  The  Convention  then  adjourned  to  3  o'clock 
the  next  day  at  the  same  place.  Lodged  at  Mr.  Everett's,  at 
Dorchester,  with  Mr.  Brown,  Willard,  and  Hitchcock. 

June  1,  Thursday.  At  8  o'clock,  Mr.  Stevens,  of  Kittery, 
preached  a  very  suitable  sermon  to  the  Convention.  They 
then  proposed  that  the  officers  of  the  army  should  choose  their 
chaplains,  and  the  ministers  should  supply  them  in  turns. 
Dined  with  Captain  Francis  in  the  army.  A  very  handsome 
dinner.     After  dinner,  came  home  much  fatigued. 

June  15,  Thursday.  Much  indisposed  for  study.  The 
weather  exceeding  dry.     Times  very  melancholy. 

June  17,  Saturday.     Studied.     Heard    that    there  was   an 

/engagement   at   Charlestown.     In  the   afternoon   saw   a  very 

great  smoke,  and  at  night  saw  the  light  of  the  fire  which  Avas 

\^  the  burning  of  Charlestown  by  the  Regular  forces.     At  the 

T  same  time  there  was  a  very  smart  engagement    at    a    small 

breastwork  raised  by  our  people  upon  Bunker's  Hill.     The  fire 

was  said  to  be  the  heaviest  for  near  two  hours  ever  known  in 

America.     There  was  a  constant  cannonading  from   Boston, 

and  three  or  four  large  ships.     They  forced  the  intrenchments 

and  obliged  our  people  to  retreat.     It  was  supposed  that  there 

were  5,000  Regulars,  and  not  more  than  2,000  or  3,000  of  our 

men  that  actually  engaged  in  the  fight.     Our  loss  is  supposed 

to    be    about  50  killed  and  20  or  30  taken  prisoners.     The 

enemy's  loss  is  said  to  be  1,400  privates  killed  and  wounded, 

and  84  ofiicers. 

June  18,  Lord's  Day.  The  people  are  in  great  consterna- 
tion. I  preached  all  day.  Many  of  "the  people  went  to  the 
army.  After  meeting.  Dr.  Whitney  and  I  went  as  far  as 
Newell's,  where  we  lodged. 

June  19,  Monday.  Went  to  the  army.  Went  down  upon 
a  hill  between  Winter  Hill  and  Bunker  Hill,  when  a  shot  from 
a  twelve  pounder  came  very  near  us  and  fell  beyond  us.     In 


I- 

\ 


Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler.  51 

the  afternoon  another  shot  from  the  same  cannon  fell  within 
the  breastwork  at  Ran's  Hill.  I  was  very  near  where  it  fell. 
Lodged  at  Watertown.     Saw  many  of  my  old  acquaintances. 

June  20,  Tues.  Came  back  to  Cambridge,  and  through  the 
breastworks,  from  thence  through  Charlestown,  and  then  home. 

June  23,  Fri.  Extremely  hot  and  dry.  Set  out  for  the 
army  in  order  to  keep  Sabbath.  Went  to  Winnissimet,  where 
Major  D.  was  stationed.  Lodged  a  little  back  in  a  private 
house. 

June  24,  Sat.  Prayed  this  morning  with  the  soldiers. 
Viewed  the  ground  with  a  glass  where  the  late  battle  Avas  on 
Bunker  Hill. 

June  25,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached  abroad  to  the  soldiers.  A 
very  attentive  congregation.     An  uncomfortable  day. 

June  26,  3Ion.  Set  out  for  Cambridge,  and  rode  as  far  as 
Dedham. 

Ju7ie  27,  Tues.  Very  much  indisposed  by  reason  of  a  violent 
cold,  which  I  took  by  preaching  abroad  on  the  Sabbath. 

Ju7ie  30,  Fri.  Set  out  home,  and  came  to  Roxbury  and 
viewed  the  fortifications.  They  have  a  very  fine  fort  on  the 
hill,  and  two  or  three  intrenchments  below.  Came  through 
the  encampment  at  Cambridge*     At  home  in  the  evening. 

July  2,  Lord's  Lay.  L^nable  to  preach.  Brother  Balch 
preached  for  me. 

Jidy  9,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached  and  administered  the  sacra- 
ment. Read  a  Resolve  of  the  Congress  recommending  the 
observance  of  the  Sabbath,  and  exhorted  the  people  to  ob- 
serve it. 

July  19,  Wed.  This  day  the  Assembly  of  the  Province  are 
to  choose  a  Council. 

July  20,  Thurs.  This  day  was  appointed  for  a  day  of  fast- 
ing and  prayer  throughout  the  United  Colonies  of  America, 
by  the  Continental  Congress,  on  account  of  the  unhappy  civil 
war  which  has  commenced. 

July  23,  Lord's  Lay.  I  preached  at  Chebacco.  Mr.  Cleave- 
land  was  gone  into  the  army,  and  the  ministers  in  the  vicinity 
have  supplied  his  pulpit.     My  people  were  left  destitute. 

Aug.  9,  Wed.  Mr.  Larned,  of  Killingly,  here.  We  rode 
to  Beverly  and  dined  at  Mr.  Brown's. 


•4 


52  Life  of  Rev.  Blanasseh  Cutler. 

Aug.  15,  Tues.  Mr.  Balch  and  I  set  out  for  Cambridge 
very  early.  At  day-break  we  Avere  in  the  camp,  in  Captain 
Baker's  tent.  When  the  morning  cannon  -was  fired,  we  went 
upon  Prospect  Hill  with  the  several  regiments  of  that  brigade 
and  saw  them  exercise  over  the  breastwoi'ks..  The  cannon  in 
the  fort  were  exercised  at  the  same  time. 

Aug.  16,  Wed.  This  day  went  to  Roxbury  and  saw  the 
works  there,  which  were  fine.  Lodged  at  Mr.  Everett's. 
Went  by  the  way  of  Watertown,  and  was  in  the  galleries  to 
hear  the  debates  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  No  great 
things. 

Aug.  17,  Tliurs.     Returned  home  through  the  encampment. 

Aug.  27,  Lord's  Bay.  Preached  all  day.  A  fine  rain  be- 
tween meetings,  the  finest  rain  we  have  had  for  three  or  four 
months.  The  drought  very  severe.  Indian  corn  so  cut  off  that 
it  is  generally  thought  that  there  will  not  be  more  than  one- 
third  of  a  crop.  Such  a  drought  the  oldest  man  can  not  re- 
member,' and  we  hear  that  it  is  very  general  through  the 
country. 

Sept.  5,  Tues.  Read  Judge  Blackstone.  Mrs.  Cutler  and 
I  made  Mr.  Dana  and  his  new  wife  a  visit.  Spent  the  after- 
noon very  agreeably  at  Mr.  Stacey's.     A  number  of  ladies. 

Sept.  6,  Wed.  Not  very  well.  Read  Judge  Blackstone's 
Commentaries. 

Sept.  13,  Wed.  This  morning  two  or  three  companies  of 
Riflemen  marched  by  on  their  way  to  Quebec.  Still  confined, 
but  able  to  read  a  little  in  American  Philosophical  Trans- 
actions. 

Sept.  14,  Thurs.  About  1,000  men  marched  by  on  their 
way  to  Quebec,  under  command  of  Colonel  Arnold. 

[These  troops  suffered  almost  incredible  hardships  in  their 
celebrated  march  by  the  Kennebeck  River,  through  the  wil- 
derness of  Maine,  to  Quebec] 
'  Oct.  12,  Thurs.     We  had,  last  evening,  a  thunderstorm,  in 

the  midst  of  which  we  discovered  a  bright  light  in  the  south- 
ward, which  appeared  like  a  number  of  buildings  on  fire. 

Oct.  13,  Fri.  The  fire  seen  last  evening  Avas  a  barn  in 
Beverly,  set  on  fire  by  a  candle  used  by  j^eople  husking 
corn. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  63 

Oct.  23,  Mon.  Mrs.  Cutler  and  I  set  out  for  Cambridge, 
where  I  am  to  supply  Mr.  Balch  as  Chaplain  to  Colonel  Doolit- 
tle's  Regiment ;  Mrs.  Cutler  to  visit  her  friends  at  Dedham 
and  Dorchester.  Did  not  get  to  Mystic  till  sunset.  I  went 
up  to  Winter  Hill,  but  did  not  attend  prayers.  Lodged  in 
Mystic  in  the  chamber  Mr.  Balch  had  taken  to  lodge  in. 

Oct.  24,  Tues.  This  morning  attended  prayers  with  the 
Regiment.  Rode  with  Mrs.  Cutler  to  Dorchester,  and  left  her 
at  Mr.  Everett's. 

Oct.  25,  Wed.     Returned  to  Winter  Hill. 

Oct.  26,  Thurs.  Occupied  myself  in  vicAving  the  works 
and  observing  the  enemy  with  my  glass,  which  I  carried  for 
that  purpose. 

Oct.  27,  Fri.  Dined  with  the  officers  of  General  Putnam's 
Brigade.  Took  the  number  of  the  cannon  of  the  several  re- 
doubts at  Cambridge.     There  are  upward  of  sixty. 

Oct.  29,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  in  the  Citadel.  A  very 
raw,  cold  day.  The  soldiers  behaved  with  decency  and  serious- 
ness, and  gave  good  attention. 

Oct.  30,  Mon.  Set  out  for  Dedham,  which  is  twenty-two 
miles  from  where  I  lodged  at  Mystic.  Extremely  tired,  as  I 
missed  the  chaise  which  was  sent  to  meet  me,  and  walked  the 
whole  distance. 

Nov.  1,  Wed.  Brother  Dean  and  wife  came  with  us  to  Mr. 
Everett's.  After  dinner  we  rode  down  on  Dorchester  Neck, 
and  had  a  fine  view  of  Boston  and  the  Castle. 

Nov.  29,  Wed.  A  fine  prize  brought  into  Cape  Ann  with 
Avarlike  stores. 

Nov.  30,  Thurs.  Went  down  to  see  the  prize.  Dined  with 
the  IpsAvich  troops. 

January  2,  1876,  Tues.  Mr.  Whipple  and  I  made  some 
preparations  to  make  saltpeter. 

Jan.  18.     A  great  deal  of  firing  of  cannon. 

Jem.  24,  Wed.  Attended  Mr.  Willard's  lecture  and  preached. 
Mrs.  Cutler  Avent  Avith  me  to  Mr.  Hitchcock's,  where  Ave  spent 
the  evening. 

Feh.  1,  Thurs.  Went  to  Salem  and  bought  kettles  for  salt- 
peter works. 


54  L'^f^  of  Rev.  BlanasseJi  Cutler. 

Feb.  7,  Wed.  This  day  the  Rev.  Levi  Frisbie  was  installed 
over  the  first  church  in  Ipswich.  I  went  with  the  delegate 
from  our  church.  Mr.  Parsons  made  the  first  prayer,  Mr. 
Cleaveland  preached,  Mr.  Chandler  gave  the  charge,  Mr.  Les- 
lie made  the  last  prayer,  Mr.  Dana  gave  the  right  hand  of  fel- 
lowship. It  was  called  a  fast,  but  we  had  plenty  of  good  cheer 
before  we  went  to  meeting,  and  after  we  returned,  a  very  good 
dinner.     The  Council  dined  at  Mr.  Jewett's. 

Feb.H,  TInirs.  Attended  Mr.  Cleaveland's  fast.  I  preached 
in  the  morning  and  Mr.  Dana  in  the  afternoon.  Snowed  all 
day. 

Feb.  9,  Fri.  Attended  Mr.  Hitchcock's  lecture  and  preached. 
Mr.  Swain  and  Mr.  Willard  present.     A  full  lecture. 

Feb.  17,  Sat.  Finished  the  setting  kettles,  for  making  salt- 
peter, in  Mr.  Whipple's  shop,  a  quarter  of  which  is  mine. 

Feb.  20,  Tues.  Through  the  camp.  Dined  with  Captain 
Porter,  of  Wenhani. 

Feb.  21,  Wed.  Went  to  Dedham  and  engaged  a  quantity 
of  corn. 

Mar.  3,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  at  Topsfield  for  Mr.  Shaw. 
Heard  that  our  troops  began  Saturday  to  bombard  Boston. 

Mar.  4,  Mon.  Set  out  for  Cambridge,  but  Avent  no  farther 
than  Salem.     A  very  heavy  firing  at  Boston  all  night. 

Mar.  7,  Thiers.  An  occasional  fast  through  the  Province 
on  account  of  our  present  public  calamities.     Preached. 

Mar.  17,  Lord's  Bay.  Preached.  This  day  the  Regular 
Troops,  under  command  of  General  Howe,  evacuated  Boston 
in  a  surprising  manner.  They  went  oif  in  so  great  haste  that 
they  left  a  large  number  of  their  cannon  and  several  of  their 
best  mortars,  with  many  other  valuable  articles.  The  King's 
stores  that  are  left  are  computed  at  three  hundred  thousand 
pounds  sterling.  What  was  the  occasion  of  so  precipitate  a 
flight  is  not  certainly  known.  It  is  generally  compared  to  the 
flight  of  the  Assyrians.  '^It  was  the  Lord's  doings  and  is  mar- 
velous in  our  eyes'' 

Mar.  19,  Tues.  The  ships  lay  down  below  the  Castle  with 
the  soldiers  and  tories  and  their  families  on  board. 

Mar.  20,  Wed.     This  day  they  demolished  the  Castle. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  55 

Apr.  9,  Tues,  Mr.  Whipple  went  to  Watertown  to  carry 
saltpeter. 

Ajyr.  24,  Wed.  Mr.  Everett  and  I  went  clown  upon  Castle 
William — a  shocking  heap  of  ruins. 

Apr.  25,  Thurs.  Went  to  Stoughton,*  Avith  ]Mr.  Chicker- 
ing,  Captain  Dean,  and  Brother  Dean,  to  see  the  Powder  Mill, 
which  was  almost  ready  to  go. 

May  17,  Fri.  Continental  fast.  Mr.  Willard  and  I  ex- 
changed. 

June  5,  Wed.  This  morning  Mr.  Oliver  and  I  sat  out  for 
Cape  Ann  to  attend  Mr.  Forbes'  installment.  Fell  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  Willard.     We  dined  at  Mr.  Peter  Coffin's. 

June  6,  Thurs.  We  dined  at  Colonel  Coffin's.  A  very 
fine  dinner,  good  compan}'-,  and  a  good  deal  of  it.  Came 
home. 

June  10,  3Ion.  Visited  the  sick.  Mr.  Parkman,  his  son 
and  daughter,  dined  with  us. 

June  16,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  to  the  people  at  Sandy 
Bay,  who  were  disconsolate  on  account  of  fourteen  men  lately 
taken  from  them  by  a  man-of-war.  They  were  in  the  Yankee 
Hero.     Returned  to  Mr.  Parsons'. 

Ju7}e  17,  3Ion.  Mr.  Parsons  and  lady  rode  with  me  to 
the  harbor,  where  we  met  Mr.  Everett,  Mr.  Balch,  and  Mr. 
Oliver,  and  went  on  board  the  Lady  Juliana,  a  prize  ship  of 
400  tons,  taken  by  one  of  our  privateers,  bound  from  Jamaica 
to  London.  The  cabins  and  state-rooms  were  spacious,  her 
carvings  elegant,  and  her  cargo  very  valuable — 184  lbs.  (?)  of 
plate  for  cabin  furniture,  22,000  dollars,  near  GOO  hhds.  of  sugar 
and  rum,  besides  cocoa,  pimento,  ginger,  cayenne-pepper,  etc. 
They  made  us  several  presents  of  the  small  aftairs  in  the 
cabins,  such  as  sweatmeats,  cayenne-pepper,  supple-jacks,  cas- 
sada  or  bread,  cashew-nuts,  cocoa-nuts,  trinkets,  etc.  Came 
home  after  dining  at  Mr.  Forbes'. 

June  27,  Thurs.  Began  to  take  the  New  England  Chronicle 
with  Mr.  John  Whipple,  third. 

*Stoughton,  fifteen  miles  southwardly  of  Boston.  "Early  in  the 
war  a  large  quantity  of  gunpower,  of  an  excellent  quality,  was  made 
in  this  town  for  the  American  Army  from  saltpeter,  the  produce  of  the 
towns  in  its  vicinity." — Morses  Western  GazeUeer. 


56  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Jul.  1,  3Ion.  Set  out  for  Dedham  to  attend  the  ordination 
of  Mr.  Chickering.*  Deacon  Whipple  went  as  delegate,  his 
wife,  and  Mr.  John  Whipple  and  wife,  in  company ;  also  Mr. 
Balch  and  wife.     Lodged  at  Dorchester. 

Jul.  3,  Wed.  Ordination.  Assisted  in  Council  at  Captain 
Eben.  Everett's.  Mr.  Payson,  Moderator.  Mr.  Robbins'  ap- 
pointed to  make  the  first  prayer.  Mr.  Caryl  preached,  Mr. 
Pay  son  gave  the  charge,  and  Mr.  Haven  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship,  and  Mr.  Curtis  made  the  last  prayer.  A  vast  many 
people  present. 

Jul.  9,  Tues.     Training. 

Jul.  14,  Lord's  Day.  Preached.  Sacrament.  Pretty  full 
meeting.     Concluded  to  go  to  Boston  to  be  inoculated. 

Jul.  15,  3Ion.  Set  out  by  day  in  company  with  John  and 
Samuel  Whipple,  and  John  SaflFord,  to  go  to  Boston  to  be 
inoculated  (with  small-pox).  Applied  to  Dr.  Manning,  who 
inoculated  us  by  puncture  in  our  arms.  I  took  lodgings  at 
Mr.  Williams'.     (Operation  successful.) 

Aug.  1,  Thurs.  Fast  through  the  Province.  At  Mr. 
Cooper's  meeting.  I  was  applied  to,  to  preach  at  Mr.  Howe's 
and  at  Mr.  Chauncy's  meeting,  but  could  not,  as  I  carried 
no  notes.     Went  into  the  water. 

Auff.  3,  Sat.     Came  home  in  good  health. 

Aug.  25,  Lord's  Lag.  Preached.  Received  a  message  from 
Colonel  Francis  to  go  to  Dorchester  and  supply  his  regiment 
as  Chaplain,  with  which  I  acquainted  the  church  and  congre- 
gation after  meeting,  and  there  was  no  objection. 

Atig.  28,  Wed.  This  day  appointed  for  Dr.  Whitney's  wed- 
ding. Attended  with  Mrs.  Cutler.  Mr.  Frisbie  made  the  first 
prayer,  and  gave  the  covenant ;  I  made  the  last  prayer.  A 
great  number  of  people  present.     A  town  wedding. 

Aug.  29,  Thurs.  Mr.  Dana  and  Mr.  Frisbie  gave  encour- 
agement that  they  would  supply  my  pulpit  while  I  am  with 
the  army.     Also  Mr.  Cleaveland  and  Tappan. 

*  The  Rev.  Jabez  Chickering  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1774,  and 
married  April  22,  1777,  Miss  Hannah  Balch,  youngest  daughter  of  his 
predecessor,  and  sister  of  Mrs.  Cutler.  He  was  ordained  July  3,  1776, 
over  ilie  South  Church,  in  Dedham,  and  remained  their  pastor  for 
nearly  ihirty-six  years — until  his  death  in  1812. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  57 

Sept.  3,  Tues.  Went  to  Dorchester.  Prayed  with  the  regi- 
ment. 

Sept.  4,  Wed.  Live  in  the  same  barracks  with  the  field 
officers. 

Sept.  8,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  to  the  regiment.  Found  it 
very  hard  to  speak  abroad. 

Sept.  10,  Tues.  In  Boston  at  vendue.  Colonel  Francis, 
Colonel  Thayer,  and  the  Adjutant  in  company.  Colonel 
Francis,  Adjutant  Herrick,  and  I  supped  at  Mr.  Kimball's. 

Sept.  11,  Wed.  Went  with  the  officers  to  Nantasket.  We 
all  dined  with  Colonel  Jackson.  Caught  plenty  of  mackerel. 
We  did  not  return  soon  enough  for  prayers.  The  fort  at 
Nantasket  is  very  grand. 

Sept.  15,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  to  the  regiment.  A  tolera- 
bly pleasant  day. 

Sept.  19,  Thurs.  Attended  lecture  in  Boston.  Mr.  Lathrop 
preached  a  very  ingenious  sermon.  Mrs.  Cutler,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Everett,  Miss  Irene  Balch,  and  the  Colonel's  lady  drank  tea 
with  us. 

Sept.  20,  Fri.  The  field  officers,  the  Adjutant,  and  myself 
drank  tea  at  Mr.  Everett's.  Read  the  Downfall  of  British 
Tyranny.     Supped  and  spent  a  very  social  evening. 

Sept.  23,  Man.  At  Boston  with  the  Colonel.  Mr.  Plumb 
prayed  this  morning. 

Sept.  25,  Wed.  Mr.  Everett  and  I  rode  to  Cambridge  and 
attended  the  Dudlian  Lecture.  Mr.  Morrel,  of  Wilmington, 
preached  a  good  sermon. 

Sep)t.  26,  Thurs.  The  Colonel  made  an  entertainment.  Mr. 
Everett  and  ladies,  Mrs.  Kimball  and  two  sisters,  Mrs.  Francis, 
all  the  Captains  in  the  regiment.  Dr.  Whipple,  etc.  The  regi- 
ment paraded  at  3  o'clock  for  exercise.  Mr.  Everett  prayed 
with  them  at  night.     I  attended  a  funeral  at  Roxbury. 

Oct.  1,  Tues.     At  Dr.  Eliot's. 

Oct.  2,  Wed.  The  Colonel,  Adjutant,  and  myself  went  to 
Braintree  and  dined  with  Colonel  Thaver.     A  fine  dinner. 

Oct.  11,  Fri.  Mr.  Everett  went  to  the  hospital  to  be  in- 
oculated. 

Oct.  13,  Lords  Day.     Our  regiment    marched   up  to    the 


58  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Meeting  House.     It  being  sacrament,  I  administered  the  ordi- 
nance. 

Oct.  16,  Wed.  Our  regiment  was  reviewed  by  the  General 
attended  by  his  Aids-.de-camp.  I  went  on  to  the  parade  with 
the  other  officers,  and  took  my  post  on  the  right  wing.  As 
the  General  began  to  march  I  paid  the  first  salute  with 
the  fire-lock.  The  regiment  made  a  very  handsome  appear- 
ance. 

Oct.  17,  Thurs.  This  day  the  field  officers,  myself,  and  the 
surgeons  were  invited  to  dine  with  the  General.  A  very  gen- 
teel dinner.     Rose  from  table  about  4  o'clock. 

Oct.  18,  Fri.  Went  up  to  the  hospital  to  see  Mr.  Everett. 
Was  smoked  most  severely. 

Oct.  23,  Wed.  Colonel  Dike's  regiment  reviewed.  Attended. 
Dined  with  the  field  officers. 

Oct.  27,  Lord's  Day.  The  regiment  marched  up  to  the 
Meeting  House.  I  preached,  and  in  the  afternoon  preached 
a  sermon  to  the  soldiers. 

Oct.  30,  Wed.  With  Mrs.  Cutler  in  Boston,  at  Dr.  Cooper's. 
Mr.  John  Adams  was  there,  who  had  just  come  from  the  Con- 
tinental Congress. 

Nov.  2,  Sat.  Rode  after  Mr.  Everett,  who  was  ready  to 
return  from  the  Inoculating  Hospital.  Dined  with  Dr. 
Sprague. 

Nov.  3,  Lord^s  Lay.  The  Regiment  met  in  Mr.  Everett's 
Meeting  House.     I  preached  all  day. 

Nov.  4-9.  Weather  pleasant  this  week.  Company  from 
Boston  and  other  parts  of  the  country. 

Nov.  10,  Lord's  Lay.  Had  but  one  exercise.  Went  to 
Boston,  after  noon,  and  heard  Dr.  Cooper. 

Nov.  17,  Lord's  Lay.     Preached  at  home.     Sacrament. 

Nov.  20,  Wed.     Returned  to  camp. 

Nov.  22,  Fri.     Several  members  from  Court  dined  with  us. 

Nov.  23,  Sat.  A  Committee  from  the  General  Court  came 
to  invite  the  Regiment  to  tarry  three  months  longer,  and  dined 
with  us. 

Nov.  24,  Lord's  Lay.  I  was  to  preach  at  Mr.  Morehead's 
meeting  for  Mr.  Balch,  but  Mr.  Murray  was  previously  en- 
gaged.    Went  to  Trinity  Church  in  the  morning,  and  heard 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  59 

an  excellent  sermon  delivered  by  Mr.  Parker.  Dined  at  Cap- 
tain McNeal's.     Afternoon,  heard  Mr.  Murray. 

Nov.  25,  Mon.     Returned  to  camp  ;  rainy. 

Nov.  29,  Fri.  All  the  officers  of  the  Regiment  dined  Avith 
us.  The  Continental  Frigate  Hancock  came  into  the  Harbor 
from  Newbury.     A  very  fine  ship. 

Nov.  30,  Sat.  Very  rainy.  Put  our  things  on  board  a 
boat  to  come  home  by  water.  The  Regiment  breaking  up. 
All  taken  off  duty.  I  set  out  home  with  Captain  Dodge  about 
12  o'clock,  and  got  home  about  9  o'clock  in  the  evening,  very 
wet,  and  much  fatigued. 

Bee.  12,  Thurs.  Thanksgiving.  Pretty  full  meeting.  The 
singers  sang  anthems  as  usual. 

Dec.  16-21.  A  great  deal  of  company  from  one  quarter 
and  another. 

Dec.  31 ,  Tues.  Rode  to  Salem.  Dined  with  Colonel  Fran- 
cis, drank  tea  at  Judge  Lynd's  and  called  on  Judge  Oliver. 

[Massachusetts  became  an  Independent  State  in  1776,  and 
was  governed  by  "The  Council"  till- 1780,  when  the  Consti- 
tution was  established  and  John  Hancock  elected "  Governor. 
The  following  is  Mr.  Cutler's  commission  as  Chaplain]  : 

State  of 

Massachusetts  Bay 
The  Major  part  of  the  Council  to  Manasseh  Cutler,  Gentleman, 

Greeting : 

[seal.]  We,  being    informed  of  your  Exemplary 

Jer.  Powell.  Life    and    Manners,    and    reposing    'special 

W.  Sever.  Trust  and  Confidence  in  your  Abilities  and 

Caleb  Cushing.  good  Conduct,  Do,  by  these  Presence,  con- 
Artemus  Ward,  stitute  and  appoint  you,  the  said  Manasseh 
J.  Winthrop.  Cutler,    to    be    Chaplain    of    the    Regiment 

B.  Lincoln.  drafted  out  of  the  Militia  of  this   State  on 

B.  Chadbourn.  the  Continental  Establishment  for  the  de- 
S.  Holten.  fence  and  security  of   the  Town  and    Har- 

Jabez  Fisher.  hour  of  Boston,  whereof  Ebenezer  Francis, 
John  Taylor,         Esq.,  is  Colonel. 

Wm.  Phillips.  You  are  therefore  carefully  and  diligently 

Benj.  Austin.        to  inculcate  in  the  minds  of  the  Soldiers  of 


60  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Dan'l  Davis.  said  Regiment,  as  well  by  Example  as  Pre- 

D.  Sewall.  cept,  the  Duties  of  Religion  and  Morality, 

F.  M.  Dana.  &  a  fervent  Love  of  their  Country,  and  in 

all  respects  discharge  the  Duty  of  a  Chaplain 
in  said  Regiment — Observing,  from  time  to 
time,  such  Orders  and  Instructions  as  you 
shall  receive  from  your  Superior  Officers,  ac- 
cording to  Military  Rules  and  Discipline 
Established  by  the  American  Congress.  In 
pursuance  of  the  Trust  reposed  in  you,  for 
■which  this  shall  be  your  Sufficient  Warrant. 
Given  under  our  Hands  and  the  Seal  of 
said  State,  at  Watertown,  the  fifth  day  of 
Sept'r,  In  the  Year  of  our  Lord,  One  Thou- 
sand seven  Hundred  &  seventy-six. 
By  Command  of  the  Major  part  of  the  Council, 

John  Avery,  Bp.y  Secy. 

[Mr,  Cutler,  after  these  months  spent  in  the  army,  came 
back  to  the  Hamlet  and  began  the  New  Year,  1776,  by  a  very 
thorough  visitation  of  his  parish,  thus  resuming  his  parochial 
duties  to  the  mutual  satisfaction  of  himself  and  his  people. 
The  extracts  from  his  private  journal  do  not  fairly  represent 
Mr.  Cutler's  methodical  and  industrious  habits.  It  is  not  pos- 
sible or  desirable  to  recount  all  his  varied  pursuits,  but  the 
bewildering  number  of  lectures,  ministers'  meetings,  fasts  and 
thanksgivings,  catechisings,  visitings,  weddings  and  funerals 
which  he  records,  not  a  tithe  of  which  has  been  given  here, 
causes  wonder  that  any  time  was  left  for  study,  and  yet  he 
thus  occupied  from  two  to  four  days  of  each  week  ;  and  his 
garden  and  farm  received  his  personal  supervision.] 

Jan.  29, 1777,  TFetZ.  General  fast  through  this  State  on  ac- 
count of  the  distressed  state  of  our  public  affairs.  Very  full 
meeting. 

Jan.  30,  Thurs.  Colonel  Francis  and  lady,  Dr.  Whitney 
and  lady,  Mr.  Herrick  and  lady  dined  with  us. 

Jan.  31,  Fri.  Captain  Brown  and  lady,  and  Mr.  Willard, 
dined  with  us. 

Feb.  9,  Lord's  Bay.     Sacrament.     Proposed  to  the  Congre- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  61 

gation  to  visit  the  several  schools  for  the  purpose  of  instruct- 
ing the  youth. 

Feb.  10,  3Ion.  Visited  Master  Dane's  school,  Backside. 
Instructed  them  in  the  Catechism,  and  gave  them  other  in- 
struction. 

Feb.  11,  Tues.     Catechised  the  children  over  the  river. 

Feb.  17,  Mon.  Hauled  wood — thirty  teams.  Got  a  fine 
quantity  of  good  wood.     Dined  sixty-four  persons. 

Feb.  28,  Fri.  Very  blustering.  Dr.  Whitney  and  I  rode 
down  to  Mr.  Hitchcock's  lecture.     I  preached. 

3far.  12,  Wed.  Rainy  and  foggy ;  bad  traveling.  Soldiers 
marching  by,  as  they  have  been  for  several  days  past.  Studied 
hard.     Finished  one  sermon  and  half  another. 

Mar.  27,  Thurs.  Attended  Mr.  Dana's  lecture,  and  preached. 
Mr.  Frisbie  present. 

Apr.  1,  Tues.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willard,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hitch- 
cock, and  Mr.  Swain  spent  the  afternoon  with  vxs. 

Apr.  8,  Tues.  At  work  in  my  garden.  Received  the  Bos- 
ton Gazette  by  stage. 

Apr.  25,  Fri.  Went  with  Mr.  Balch  to  Boston,  Proposed 
going  out  with  Commodore  Manly  in  the  Frigate  Hancock,  but 
concluded  not  to  go. 

3Iai/  1,  Thurs.  Annual  fast.  Few  people  at  meeting.  A 
very  remarkable  day  for  this  season  of  the  year.  It  might 
properly  be  called  a  N.  E.  snow-storm.  The  thinnest  fast  I 
ever  beheld. 

3Iay  28,  Wed.  Election  of  Councilors.  Set  out  very  early 
for  Boston.  Mr.  John  AVhipple  went  with  me.  Left  our 
horses  at  Winnissimet  Ferry.  Got  into  Boston  about  10 
o'clock.  Sermon  delivered  at  11  o'clock  by  Rev.  Mr.  Web- 
ster. A  very  sensible  discourse.  The  old  Council  and  House, 
escorted  by  the  Independent  Company  from  the  State  House 
to  the  Meeting  House,  and  from  thence  to  Faneuil  Hall,  Avhere 
an  elegant  entertainment  was  provided  for  the  Council,  House, 
Ministers,  and  Ofiicers  of  the  Militia  and  Independent  Com- 
pany. The  music  of  the  Independent  Company  was  very  fine, 
equal  to  that  of  the  Regulars.  Afternoon  the  ministers  met 
at  the  State  House  in  Convention. 

3Iay  29,  Thurs.     The  Convention  Sermon  was  preached  in 


62  Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler. 

the  Old  Brick,  at  11   o'clock,  by  the  President.     I  dined  at 
Dr.  Eliot's. 

June  2,  3Io7i.     Worked  all  day  in  my  garden. 

June  6,  Fri.  Attended  Mr.  Swain's  lecture.  Mr.  Willard 
present.     I  preached. 

Jii7ie  15,  Lord's  Day.  The  time  for  Sacrament  in  course, 
but  was  necessarily  put  by  on  account  of  the  Deacons  not  be- 
ing able  to  procure  any  wine.  Called,  after  meeting,  to  visit 
Hannah  Roberts,  who  had  broke  out  with  small-pox. 

[Mr.  Cutler  inoculated  about  fifty  persons,  "  some  with 
puncture,  and  some  with  threads,"  who  were  attended  by  Mr. 
Manning,  but  were  visited  daily  by  Mr.  Cutler  till  the  end  of 
June.] 

July  5,  Sat.  Received  a  letter  from  Colonel  Francis,  at 
Ticonderoga. 

July  8,  Tues.  Mr.  Plumb  and  Mrs.  Hitchcock  dined 
with  us. 

July  11,  Fri.  Mrs.  Cutler  and  I  rode  to  Beverly  to  make 
Mr.  Willard  a  visit. 

July  17,  Thurs.     Mr.  Eliot,  of  Boston,  dined  with  us. 

July  26,  tSat.  Rode  to  Beverly  in  order  to  get  some  wine 
(for  sacrament).     Gave  20s.  per  gallon. 

July  27,  Lord^s  Lay.    Sacrament.    Preached.    Full  meeting. 

Aug.  2,  /Sat.  Rode  down  to  Cape  Ann  to  exchange  with 
Mr.  Parsons.  Called  at  Mr.  Tappan's,  Mr.  Rogers  ,  Mr. 
Forbes',  Captain  Brown's,  etc. 

Aug.  3,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached  at  Squam.  Captain  Brown 
dined  with  me.     Drank  coffee  with  Deacon  Merritt. 

Aug.  4,  3Ion.  Dined  at  Captain  Brown's,  Mr.  Parsons  and 
Deacon  Merritt  in  company.  Came  home,  and  brought  four 
fine  lobsters  as  a  rarity. 

Aug.  6,  Wed.  Rode  to  Newburyport,  to  attend  the  ordina- 
tion of  Mr.  Spring.  Dined  with  the  Council.  A  fine  day,  a 
fine  ordination,  and  an  elegant  dinner.  Called  on  Colonel 
Titcomb.     He  presented  me  with  a  fine  smoked  salmon. 

Aug.  11,  3Io)i.     Road  to  Mr.  Swain's.     Read  French. 

[Mr.  Cutler  devoted  much  time  during  the  three  following 
months  to  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  French  language.] 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  63 

Aug.  15,  Fri.  Mr.  Foster  lodged  here.  Dr.  Wliittaker 
here  in  the  afternoon. 

Aug.  26,  Tues.  Studied  exceeding  hard,  preparing  for  the 
Fast. 

Aug.  28,  Thurs.  Fast  through  the  State  on  account  of  the 
war.     Preached.     A  very  full  meeting. 

Sept.  8,  3Ion.  Planted  out  in  my  borders  in  the  great 
alley.  Crown  Imperials,  Tulips,  Persian  Iris,  early  and  late 
Daffies,  and  Peonies.     Visited  the  sick. 

Sept.  13,  Sat.  Boiled  some  cornstalk  juice  into  molasses, 
being  the  first  experiment.  Boiling  away  five  parts  will  make 
tolerable  molasses. 

Sept.  15,  3fo7i.  Very  busy  about  mills  for  grinding  stalks 
for  molasses. 

Sept.  16-19.  Boiled  cornstalk  liquor,  and  studied  French. 
Mr.  Cummings  studied  with  me. 

Sept.  28,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached.  A  pretty  full  meeting. 
Large  number  of  strangers. 

Sept.  29,  Mon.  Mustering  men  to  go  the  Northern  Army. 
Half  the  militia  called  for.  All  the  troop  in  this  toAvn  con- 
cluded to  go. 

Sept.  30,  Tues.  The  troop  marched.  They  halted  at  Mr. 
John  Brown's  and  sent  for  me  to  pray  with  them. 

Oct.  2,  Thurs.     The  foot  (soldiers)  marched. 

Oct.  6,  Mon.  Mr.  Cummings  came  again  to  study  French 
with  me. 

Oct.  20,  3fo7i.  Wrote  to  Mr.  Plumb  at  Albany  and  Captain 
Dodge  in  the  army.     Mr.  Parsons  and  wife  here. 

Oct.  23,  Thurs.  Mr.  Forbes  here  to  dine.  Received  the 
agreeable  intelligence  of  the  surrender  of  General  Burgoyne 
and  his  whole  army  to  General  Gates  as  prisoners  of  war.  A 
general  discharge  of  cannon  at  Boston,  Marblehead,  Salem, 
Beverly,  Cape  Ann,  Newbury,  and  Portsmouth,  and  all  the 
ships  and  vessels  of  force  in  all  those  harbors. 

Oct.  26,  Lord's  Lag.  Preached.  In  the  afternoon,  upon 
the  times. 

JVov.  5,  Wed.  Set  out  for  Boston,  in  order  to  see  Burgoyne's 
army  come  into  Cambridge.  Brother  Balch  went  with  me. 
We  dined  at  Newell's  and  lodged  at  Mr.  Everett's. 


64  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Nov.  6,  Thurs.  Wind  out ;  blew  and  rained  hard.  Pre- 
vented our  going  to  Cambridge. 

JVov.  7,  Fri.  Rode  to  Cambridge.  Saw,  in  the  barracks, 
the  regukir  troops  who  came  in  yesterday.  About  12  o'clock 
Burgoyne  came  into  town,  attended  by  a  party  of  the  Ameri- 
can Light  Horse  as  a  guard.  General  Glover  rode  Avith  him, 
and  two  British  generals,  Phillips  and  Hamilton.  Imme- 
diately after  the  Hessian  troops  came  in,  preceded  and  fol- 
lowed by  a  large  guard  of  militia.  They  appeared  to  be  as 
dull,  heavy  molded,  and  dirty  a  pack  as  ever  I  saw.  The 
procession  reached  near  three  miles.  I  saw,  likewise,  General 
Riedesel,  the  commander  of  the  Hessians,  a  very  fine  man. 
He  was  accompanied  with  two  or  three  more  Hessian  generals. 
They  barracked  at  Winter  Hill,  the  Regulars  at  Prospect 
Hill.     Returned  home  much  fatigued. 

JSfov.  20,  Thurs.  Annual  Thanksgiving.  A  full  meeting 
and  a  pleasant  day. 

Nov.  21,  Fri.  Rode  to  Beverly.  Called  on  Mr.  Hitchcock, 
lately  returned  from  the  army. 

Nov.  22,  jSat.  Mr.  Fuller  came,  in  order  for  an  exchange 
to-morrow.  Dr.  Stiles  qame  this  evening  to  keep  Sabbath 
with  me. 

Nov.  23,  Lord's  Bay.  Rode  to  Cape  Ann  to  preach  for 
Mr.  Fuller,  which  was  a  great  mortification,  as  Dr.  Stiles  was 
present  to  preach  for  me.  The  Doctor  preached  in  the  fore- 
noon, Mr.  Fuller  in  the  afternoon.     I  returned  in  the  evening. 

Nov.  24,  Mon.  Dr.  Stiles  set  out  for  Portsmouth.  He  is 
a  very  agreeable  gentleman,  and  is  the  President  of  Yale 
College.  I  took  a  fine  draught  of  Philadelphia,  including  the 
whole  of  Mr.  Howe's  route  from  Elk  River,  from  a  map  the 
Doctor  had  procured  from  actual  mensuration. 

Dec.  9,  Tues.  Went  to  Salem.  At  Judge  Oliver's  and 
Judge  Lynde's.  Spent  the  evening  in  Beverly  at  Mr.  George 
Cabot's,  Mr.  Willard  in  company. 

Dec.  10,  Wed.     Drew  maps  of  Philadelphia. 

Dec.  18,  Thurs.  Thanksgiving  through  the  United  States 
on  account  of  our  successes,  and  particularly  on  account  of 
the  surrender  of  General  Burgoyne  and  his  array. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  65 

[Much  of  the  record  for  the  year  1778  is  lost.  It  was  dur- 
ing this  period  that  the  unsuccessful  campaign  of  General 
Sullivan,  undertaken  to  dislodge  the  British  from  Newport, 
Rhode  Island,  was  organized.  Mr.  Cutler,  as  Chaplain  to 
General  Titcomb's  Brigade,  accompanied  this  expedition,  of 
which  he  gives  a  detailed  account.] 

July  20,  1778,  Lord''s  Bay.  Exchanged  with  Brother 
Balch,  who  supplies  Mr.  Hitchcock's  people,  at  Beverly. 

Aiig.  4,  Tuesday.  General  Titcomb  called  on  me  in  his 
way  to  Rhode  Island,  and  invited  me  to  go  with  him  as  Chap- 
lain to  his  brigade  on  the  present  expedition.  This  evening  a 
fine  shower  of  rain. 

Aug.  7,  Friday.  Preparing  to  set  out  for  Rhode  Island, 
to-morrow. 

Aug.  8,  Sat.  Set  out  for  Rhode  Island  with  Captains 
Brown  and  Cabot.  Crossed  Winnissimet  Ferry.  Dined  in 
Boston  at  Mr.  Williams'.  The  day  exceeding  hot.  Set  out 
from  Boston  at  5  o'clock ;  made  our  next  stage  beyond  Milton 
Meeting  House,  at  sunset,  where  we  oated  and  drank  coffee. 
Rode  on  to  Noyes',-at  Stotenham ;  refreshed  ourselves  and 
horses  about  12  o'clock,  but  did  not  go  into  the  house.  A 
very  fine  evening,  cool  and  comfortable,  far  better  riding  than 
in  the  day  time.  Rode  on  seven  miles  further ;  stopped  at  a 
farmer's  house,  but  the  house  Avas  filled  with  soldiers,  and  vre 
were  obliged  to  turn  into  the  barn.  I  slept  on  straw,  between 
Captains  Cabot  and  Brown,  and  very  sound,  until  five  in  the 
morning,  when  the  mustering  of  the  soldiers  waked  us,  and 
we  immediately  rose. 

Aug.  9,  Sunday.  Set  out  at  5  o'clock.  Breakfasted  at  m.y 
classmate,  Leonard's.  Exceeding  hot.  Rode  through  Taun- 
ton, and  crossed  the  river  a  mile  below  town.  Passed  through 
Freetown ;  stopped  at  a  tavern  at  the  further  part.  Lot 
Strange.  Dined  in  company  with  a  number  of  gentlemen 
from  Boston.  Extremely  hot.  A  shower  at  four.  Rode  on 
to  Tiverton.  I  got  lodgings  within  two  miles  of  the  Ferry. 
Captain  Brown  and  Captain  Cabot  went  on  to  Rhode  Island. 

This  morning  the  army  was  ordered   to   parade   near  How- 
land's  Ferry,  in  order  to  embark  and  re-embark  in  the  boats, 
5 


66  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

that  they  might  the  better  understand  such  a  maneuver ;  but 
a  reconnoitering  party  having  discovered  that  the  enemy  had 
left  the  upper  end  of  the  Island,  and  retreated  into  Newport, 
the  troops  embarked  and  proceeded  over,  formed  on  the  op- 
posite beach,  and  marched  up  and  took  possession  of  their 
works,  which  were  not  at  all  damaged.  They  evacuated  them 
Saturday  evening,  upon  finding  our  troops  intended  to  land 
six  miles  below,  and  cut  off  their  retreat.  They  drove  off  all 
the  horses  and  all  the  cattle  from  the  inhabitants,  except  one 
cow  to  a  family,  destroyed  all  their  wheels  and  carriages  of 
every  kind,  took  quantities  of  provisions,  and  filled  up  most 
of  their  wells. 

My  people  were  supplied  this  day  by  Mr.  Steward,  of 
Salem,  who  preached  for  Mr.  SAvain,  and  he  preached  for  me, 
and  administered  the  Sacrament,  which  I  had  before  appointed 
and  could  not  well  put  by. 

Aug.  10,  3Ionday.  This  morning  I  crossed  on  to  Rhode 
Island,  and  joined  General  Titcomb's  Brigade.  Dined  with 
him  and  a  number  of  gentlemen  on  the  ground  abroad,  not 
having  any  quarters.  Slept  this  night  in"  the  officer's  room  at 
the  barracks  in  the  fort  taken  up  by  Colonel  Wade. 

Last  evening  a  fleet  was  seen  off  the  harbor,  of  about 
eighteen  or  twenty  sail,  which  came  up  near  the  Lighthouse 
and  anchored.  Several  ships  of  the  line,  but  unknown  who, 
or  from  whence.  About  10  o'clock  the  French  fleet,  that  lay 
above  the  town  of  Newport,  came  to  sail,  and  went  out  in  pur- 
suit of  them.  As  they  passed  the  town  and  forts,  the  ships 
began  and  kept  up  an  incessant  fire,  until  they  were  all  passed. 
The  roar  of  cannon  at  times  was  such  as  to  make  but  one  con- 
tinued sound,  withe ut  any  distinction  of  guns.  The  fleet  in 
the  offing,  which  proved  to  be  a  fleet  from  New  York,  imme- 
diately put  to  sea,  and  by  dark  the  French  fleet  in  pursuit  of 
them  was  out  of  sight  of  land. 

Aug.  11,  Tuesday.  The  General  procured  a  chamber  for 
quarters  at  one  Browning's,  a  Quaker.  Invited  me  to  live 
with  him.  This  morning,  the  wind  at  N.  E.  blew  pretty  hard ; 
cloudy  a'nd  rainy.  At  4  o'clock  the  whole  array  paraded,  and 
was  reviewed  by  the  general  oflRcers.  The  order  of  battle  and 
encampment :  Front  line,  Varnum's  and  Cornell's  Brigades  on 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler,  67 

the  rio-lit.  Glover's  and  Colonel  Gommandino-  Greene's  do.  on 
the  left.  The  second  line,  commanded  by  Major-General 
Hancock,  Level's  Brigade  on  the  right,  Titconib's  on  the  left. 
The  light  corps,  consisting  of  Jackson's  Corps,  Boston  Inde- 
pendents and  Light  Infantry,  and  50  men  from  each  brigade 
in  the  front  line,  commanded  by  Colonel  Commanding  Levis- 
ton  (Livingston?).  The  reserve,  consisting  of  Holden's  and 
Brown's  regiments,  commanded  by  Colonel  Commanding  West. 
A  flanking  division  on  each  wing  "of  the  army,  and  a  flanking 
party  to  each  wing  of  each  line,  consisting  of  volunteers  and 
militia.  A  body  of  horse,  commanded  by  General  Whipple. 
The  right  wing  of  the  whole  army  commanded  by  Major- 
General  Greene  ;  the  left,  by  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette. 

Aug.  12,  Wednesday .  This  morning,  orders  for  the  whole 
army  to  be  paraded  at  6  o'clock,  for  advancing  toward  the 
enemy's  lines.  The  storm  increasing  violently,  prevented.  A 
great  number  of  the  militia,  having  no  tents,  were  obliged  to 
continue  out  in  the  storm  without  any  shelter.  Colonel 
Thorndike  resigned,  and  Colonel  Wadsworth  appointed.  Cap- 
tains Brown  and  Cabot  took  lodgings  at  our  quarters. 

Aug.  13,  Thursday.  The  storm  exceeding  severe ;  wind 
very  high.  Mr.  Nat.  Tracy  lodged  with  us.  Dr.  Clark  and 
Parsons,  Colonels  Wadsworth  and  Thorndike,  with  us.  A  ser- 
geant and  nine  men  deserted,  belonging  to  the  Twenty-second 
Regiment,  British.  Say  the  French  ships  dismounted  the 
guns,  and  almost  demolished  two  forts,  and  killed  several  men, 
on  Monday. 

Aug.  14,  Friday.  This  morning  the  wind  changed  to  the 
southward.  At  4  o'clock  in  the  morning  troops  turned  out, 
examined  their  arms,  and  renewed  their  cartridges.  Captains 
Cabot,  Brown,  and  myself  rode  down  near  the  enemy's  lines. 
Saw  Colonel  Hichborn  and  his  brother,  Samuel.  Orders  for 
the  army  to  march  at  6  o'clock  to-morrow  morning.  Several 
deserters. 

Aug.  15,  Saturday.  At  6  o'clock  a  signal  gun  from  the  right 
fired  as  a  signal  for  the  whole  army  to  parade.  Half  after 
six  two  cannons  were  fired  for  signals  for  forming  into  col- 
umns.  Three  cannons  the  signal  for  marching.  The  front 
line  advanced  in  four  columns,  and  the  second  line  in  tAVO  col- 


68  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

iims,  commanded  by  their  respective  Brigadiers.  Flanking 
divisions  and  flanking  parties  marched  in  their  respective 
stations.  The  Light-corps  advanced.  The  Light-horse  ad- 
vanced on  the  right  for  reconnoitering.  Pioneers  marched 
advanced  of  each  division  to  remove  Avails,  etc.  The  artillery 
and  ammunition  wagons  between  the  first  and  second  line  ; 
the  bao-craffe  between  the  second  line  and  the  reserve.  The 
reserve  moved  in  one  column.  I  had  a  fine  prospect  of  the 
whole  army  as  it  moved  off  from  Butt's  Hill,  where  we  first 
encamped.  They  made  a  very  grand  appearance.  The  army 
marched  about  three  miles  and  halted.  A  council  of  war  was 
held  by  the  general  officers,  who  advanced,  and  marked  out 
the  ground  for  encamping.  No  appearance  of  an  attack  from 
the  enemy.  The  army  extended  quite  across  the  Island  from 
water  to  Avater.  At  2  o'clock  advanced  and  came  upon  the 
ground,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  enemy's  lines,  di- 
rectly in  their  front.  They  fired  a  few  cannon.  As  soon  as 
our  brigade  Avas  halted  on  the  ground,  I  returned  to  our  old 
quarters  and  tarried  the  night.  Was  much  pleased  Avith  the 
kindness  and  benevolence  of  Mr,  Thomas  BroAvning,  at  Avhose 
house  we  quartered. 

Aug.  It),  Lord's  Day.  Returned  to  camp.  General  Titcomb 
took  quarters  at  Mr.  Peleg  Laughton's,  a  friendly  Quaker, 
Avhere  we  had  very  good  accommodations.  Almost  the  Avliole 
brigade  on  duty.  No  opportunity  to  attend  public  Avorship. 
At  night  began  to  throAv  up  a  redoubt  upon  a  high  eminence 
near  the  enemy's  lines.  Went  in  the  afternoon  Avith  a  number 
of  officers  to  vieAV  a  garden  near  our  quarters  belonging  to 
one  Mr.  BoAvlor — the  finest  by  far  I  ever  saAv.  It  is  laid  out 
much  in  the  form  of  my  OAvn,  contains  four  acres,  has  a  grand 
aisle  in  the  middle,  and  is  adorned  in  the  front  Avith  beau- 
tiful carvings.  Near  the  middle  is  an  oval,  surrounded  Avith 
espaliers  of  fruit  trees,  in  the  center  of  Avhich  is  a  pedestal, 
on  which  is  an  armillary  sphere,  Avith  an  equatorial  dial.  On 
one  side  of  the  front  is  a  hot-house,  containing  orange  trees, 
Avith  some  ripe,  some  green,  some  blooms,  and  various  other 
fruit  trees  of  the  exotic  kind,  curious  floAvers,  etc.  At  the 
loAver  end  of  the  aisle  is  a  large  summer-house,  a  long  square 
containing  three  rooms — the  middle  paved  with  marble  and 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasiseli  Cutler.  69 

hung  -with  landscapes  and  other  pictures.  On  the  right  is  a 
very  large  private  library  adorned  with  very  curious  carvings. 
The  collection  of  French  and  English  authors,  maps,  etc.,  is 
valuable.  The  room  is  furnished  with  a  table,  chairs,  etc. 
There  are  espaliers  of  fruit  trees  at  each  end  of  the  garden, 
some  curious  flowering  shrubs,  and  a  pretty  collection  of  fruit 
trees.  The  room  on  the  left  in  the  summer-house,  beautifully 
prepared  and  designed  for  music,  contains  a  spinnet.  But 
the  vvhole  garden  discovered  the  desolations  of  war  and  the 
want  of  a  gardener  to  dress  it.  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette 
took  quarters  at  this  house.  A  number  of  cannon  fired  from 
the  enemy's  lines  this  afternoon,  but  no  damage  done. 

Aug.  17,  Monday.  Morning  foggy.  After  it  cleared  away 
rode  down  to  the  lines  with  Colonel  Thorndike.  Had  a  fine 
view  of  the  enemy's  lines  from  the  top  of  a  house,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  and  little  advanced  of  our  picket. 
The  enemy  had  fired  for  some  time  in  the  morning,  but  had 
ceased  for  some  hours.  While  we  were  on  the  house  they  be- 
gun their  fire  again  from  the  redoubts.  Several  shot  passed 
us  on  each  side  and  fell  beyond  us.  Made  a  shocking  whis- 
tling. Soon  after  we  left  the  house  a  shot  came  through  it. 
Found  our  situation  not  very  safe  or  agreeable.  Stood  by 
the  Marquis  when  a  cannon  ball  just  passed  us.  Was  pleased 
with  his  firmness,  but  found  I  had  nothing  to  boast  of  my  own, 
and  as  I  had  no  business  in  danger  concluded  tp  stay  no 
longer  lest  I  should  happen  to  pay  too  dear  for  my  curiosity. 

[Heard  from  my  friends  in  Connecticut.] 

Aug.  18,  Tuesday.  Morning  foggy.  As  soon  as  it  cleared 
off  the  enemy  began  to  fire  on  the  works  thrown  up  last  night, 
which  were  considerable,  but  our  men  were  so  covered  that 
they  continued  the  works  for  the  whole  day — no  damage  done 
except  one  man  wounded.  One  man  had  his  cartouch-box  car- 
ried away.  Nine  arms  belonging  to  our  brigade  paraded  on 
the  ground  near  the  intrenchment  carried  away  by  two  balls. 
Captain  Dodge  *  escaped   narrowly.     Had  the  honor  to  dine 

*  Colonel  Robert  Dodge,  the  life-long  friend  of  Doctor  Cutler,  was 
born  in  1743,  and  died  in  1823.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Old  French 
war,  and  was  with  Wolfe  at  the  capture  of  Quebec,  lie  entered  the 
Eevolutionary  War  as  Captain,  served  tlu'ough  the  entire  war,  and  I'ose 


70  Life  of  Rev.  3Ia7iasseJi  Cutler. 

with  General  Hancock  *by  particular  invitation.  Dined  in 
great  state.  A  large  number  of  officers.  The  General  very 
complaisant.  Invited  me  to  dine,  breakfast,  or  to  sup  with 
him  whenever  it  suited  me,  without  any  ceremony.  ,  After 
dinner  a  number  of  good  songs. 

Aug.  19,  Wednesday.  Foggy  morning.  Our  first  battery 
opened.  A  steady  fire  from  both  sides.  Three  hundred  can- 
non fired  by  10  o'clock.  The  enemy  evacuated  one  re- 
doubt before  12  o'clock.  At  the  great  rock  on  our  left  had  a 
fine  view  secure  from  danger.  Rode  in  the  afternoon  in  pur- 
suit of  a  fishino;  boat.  A  man  in  one  of  the  trenches  had  his 
thigh  cut  oft"  by  a  cannon  ball  and  expired  in  an  hour  and  a 
half. 

Aug.  20,  Thursday.  Foggy  morning.  A  steady  fire  through 
the  day.  Attended  prayers  this  evening  with  the  brigade  for 
the  first  time,  our  situation  not  admitting  of  it  before. 

Aug.  21,  Friday.  The  French  fleet  returned  and  came  to 
anchor  oif  the  lighthouse,  greatly  damaged  by  the  storm. 
The  Languedoc,  on  board  of  which  Count  D'Estaing  hoisted 
his  flag,  was  dismasted  and  lost  her  rudder.  One  seventy-four 
missing.  Took  the  Senegal  and  one  bomb  ketch.  General 
and  all  of  us  invited  to  take  luncheon  with  General  Hancock. 
Found  it  rather  an  elegant  dinner  than  a  luncheon.  AVe  all 
rode  down  to  the  rock.  Saw  the  fleet.  We  had  two  or  three 
more  batteries  opened.  Warm  firing.  Continually  throwing 
shells  from  both  parties.  Saw  several  burst  in  the  air.  At- 
tended prayers  morning  and  evening. 

Aug.  22,  Saturday.  Wind  out.  The  three  frigates  in  the 
river  joined  the  fleet.  Warm  firing.  Prayers  morning  and 
evening. 

Aug.  23,  Lord's  Bay.  Expected  to  preach,  and  just  pre- 
pared to  go  up  to  the  brigade  Avhen  the  General  received  a 
letter  from  General  Sullivan,  informing  him  that  the  French 
fleet  was  so  disastered  they  could  by  no  means  aff'ord  us  any 
assistance,  but  were  gone  to  Boston  to  refit.  As  the  plan 
had  ever  been  to  take  off"  eight  or  ten  thousand  men  from  the 


to  the  command  of  his  regiment.     He  represented   Hamilton   several 
years  in  the  Massachusetts  General  Court. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  71 

left  of  the  army  and  land  them  on  Brenton's  Neck,  in  the 
enemy's  rear,  under  cover  of  the  French  ships,  for  it  was  well 
known  their  lines  were  impregnable,  this  could  not  be  executed 
with  any  degree  of  safety  or  prospect  of  success,  without  any 
cover,  all  the  generals  were  called  upon  to  give  their  opinion 
whether  an  immediate  retreat  was  not  absolutely  necessary. 
This  unexpected  desertion  of  the  fleet,  which  was  the  main- 
spring of  the  expedition,  cast  a  universal  gloom  on  the  army, 
and  threw  us  all  into  consternation.  Our  most  sanguine  hopes 
Avere  cropped  in  the  bud,  and  we  expected  immediate  orders  to 
prepare  to  move  off  the  ground.  This  prevented  the  brigade's 
meeting  for  religious  services.  A  very  heavy  firing  from  the 
batteries  all  day.  Rode  down  the  lines.  Had  a  fine  prospect 
of  the  enemy's  lines.  Saw  all  our  shot  strike  which  were  well 
directed.  One  man  killed  bv  a  cannon  ball  at  one  of  our 
guns ;  another  died  of  the  wound  he  received  yesterday  by 
the  bursting  of  a  shell.  A  great  number  of  shells  thrown  in 
the  night.  Our  people  split  one  eighteen  pounder  and  one 
nine  and  a  half  inch  mortar. 

Aiig.  24,  Mon.  As  much  of  the  heavy  baggage  moved  off 
last  night  as  possible.  A  body  of  men  retreated  to  strengthen 
the  works  at  Butts'  Hill.  At  the  lines,  heavy  firing ;  army 
preparing  to  retreat. 

Aug.  25,  Tiies.  Very  heavy  firing ;  shells  at  night.  Orders 
to  be  ready  to  retreat  at  a  moment's  notice. 

Aug.  26,  Wed.  Expected  to  retreat  at  six  this  morning. 
Brigade  paraded.  Sent  all  our  baggage  off  the  Island.  Ex- 
tremely hot,  but  remained  on  the  ground.  Concluded  to  set 
out  myself  for  Connecticut.  Came  off  the  Island  at  4  o'clock 
p.  M.;  crossed  at  Bristol  Ferry ;  rode  to  Providence,  and 
lodged  about  a  mile  out  of  town. 

Aug.  27,  Thursdag.  Rode  to  my  father's.  Found  all  well. 
Heard  firing  all  dav. 

Atig.  28,  Fri.     At  Captain  Corlis',  etc. 

Aug.  29,  Sat.  Visited  several  of  my  friends.  Mr.  Foster 
not  at  home.  Applied  to,  to  supply  the  pulpit  to-morrow. 
This  day  our  army  retreated  to  Butt's  Hill.  The  enemy  pur- 
sued. A  pretty  warm  action,  but  the  enemy  repulsed.  Oiir 
loss :  30  killed,  150  wounded,  20  taken  prisoners. 


72  Life^  of  Rev.  Manassch  Cutler. 

Aug.  -SO,  Lord's  Day.  Preached  for  Mr.  Foster.  2\Ir. 
Willard  supplied  mv  people  at  home.  This  evening  our 
whole  army  came  off  the  Island,  without  leaving  any  thing 
behind. 

Aug.  31,  Moil.  Set  out  home  [where  he  arrived  September 
2d,  by  way  of  Dedham  and  Boston]. 

[Soon  after  his  return  from  the  Rhode  Island  expedition,  Mr. 
Cutler  decided  upon  qualifying  himself  to  practice  medicine, 
with  a  view,  probably,  to  increase  his  means  of  usefulness, 
and  also  to  secure  an  increase  of  income  adequate  to  the 
Avants  of  a  growing  family.  He  provided  himself  with  the 
works  of  a  number  of  valuable  medical  authors,  and  com- 
menced his  studies  under  the  direction  of  his  friend  and 
parishioner,  Dr.  Elisha  Whitney.  He  likeAvise  accompanied 
the  Doctor  in  his  daily  visits  to  his  patients,  in  order  to  study 
the  symptoms  and  development  of  disease.  With  a  mind 
well  disciplined  to  study,  his  progress  Avas  rapid.  He  com- 
prehended almost  at  a  'glance  the  leading  principles  of  the 
science,  and  in  a  very  short  period  Avon  for  himself  among  the 
medical  profession  the  reputation  of  a  safe  and  skillful 
practitioner.] 

In  December,  1778,  a  remarkably  cold  storm  is  recorded. 

Dec.  2>j,  Vr^ed.  The  cold  extreme.  The  air  exceedingly 
full  of  icy  particles  ;  something  cloudy,  but  not  so  dense  as 
to  obscure  the  sun.  The  Avhole  atmosphere  had  an  uncommon 
appearance  of  an  angry  cold,  as  though  it  Avas  in  a  turbid 
state.     In  the  evening  the  stars  were  to  be  seen,  but  obscure. 

Dec.  24,  Thurs.  The  last  night  the  coldest  I  ever  remem- 
ber. Froze  in  places  never  knoAvn  to  freeze  before.  The 
Avell  froze  over  near  two  inches  thick.  The  Avhole  day  exceed- 
ingly cold,  but  the  air  much  clearer.  Rode  to  toAvn.  The 
stars  very  bright  and  tAvinkling  in  the  evening. 

Dec.  25,  Fri.  Still  exceeding  cold,  but  not  so  extreme. 
Mr.  Forbes  here.  Cloudy.  At  evening  began  to  snow. 
Wind  X.  E. 

Dec.  20,  Sat.  A  most  violent  snow-storm,  such  as  I  do  not 
remember.     Wind  very  high  at  N.  E. 

Dec.  27,  Lord's  Day.  No  meeting  in  the  morning.  Preached 
after  noon.     Clear  and  cold,  the  snoAV  much  drifted.     Such  a 


Life  of  Ilcv.  Manassch  Cutler.  73 

storm  as  yesterday's  has  not  been  known  in  tlic  memory  of 
men.     Many  dumb  creatures  perished. 

Dec.  30,  Wed.  This  day  appointed  by  Congress  as  a  day 
of  Thanksjxivino-  through  the  United  States  of  America. 
Preached  a  sermon  I  prepared  for  the  occasion.  Full  meet- 
ing, considering  the  state  of  the  roads. 

[Amid  the  distractions  incident  to  the  unsettled  state  of 
affairs  throughout  the  country,  it  was  difficult  for  the  people 
to  meet  their  obligations  to  their  pastor,  who,  with  an  unpaid 
salary,  Avas  consequently  subjected  to  great  inconveniences, 
much  of  which  Avas  the  result  of  the  state  of  the  currency  of 
this  time.  Dr.  Cutler  writes:  "In  1777  money  had  depre- 
ciated as  much,  at  least,  as  five  for  one,  but  in  1779  it  Avas 
nearer  tAventy  to  one.  I  have  spent  considerable  of  an  estate 
in  the  support  of  my  family,  and  noAV  am  driven  to  the  prac- 
tice of  physic."  He  read  medicine  assiduously,  studied  anat- 
omy, prepared  medicines  and  attended  the  sick,  in  addition  to 
his  usual  pastoral  duties.  During  the  first  part  of  1779,  sick- 
ness prevailed  in  his  OAvn  parish,  and  in  May  and  June  he  had 
forty  small-pox  patients  under  his  care  at  Wenham.] 

Jan.  17, 1779,  Lord^s  Day.  Preached.  A  contribution  for 
the  poor  at  Cape  Ann.     Collected  eighty  dollars. 

Feh.  3,  Wed.  Rode  to  Chebacco,  to  attend  the  operation  of 
paracentesis  Avith  Dr.  Davis. 

Feb.  8,  Mon.  Pleasant.  Tried  a  number  of  very  enter- 
taining experiments  on  the  electrical  machine  in  the  course  of 
the  day  and  evening.  Repeated  a  number  of  those  mentioned 
by  Dr.  Franklin  in  his  letters  to  Mr.  Collinson. 

Feh.  9.     Rained  all  day.     Tried  further  experiments. 

Mar.  16,  Tues.  jParish  meeting.  I  AA'as  desired  to  go  into  the 
meeting,  and  inform  the  parish  Avhat  sum  wov\ld  satisfy  me  for 
making  good  my  salary.  I  declined  mentioning  any  sum. 
They  voted  £512,  in  addition  to  my  old  salary. 

3Iar.  22,  Monday.  A  very  hard  snoAv-storm.  More  snoAV 
Avas  supposed  to  fall  than  has  been  on  the  ground  at  one  time 
this  Avinter,  though  much  drifted. 

31ar.  24.  A  remarkable  thick  snoAv-storm  the  Avhole  day 
and  part  of  the  preceding  and  succeeding  nights.     A  great 


74  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

quantity  fell,  so  it  is  judged  there  is  more  snow  on  the  ground 
now  than  there  has  been  at  a  time  for  several  years.  As  much 
fell  as  on  Monday.  Snow  banks  exceeding  high.  In  both 
these  remarkable  storms,  though  the  wind  was  very  high,  it 
was  not  at  all  cold. 

April  13,  Tues.  At  Salem.  Brought  from  Judge  Oliver's 
two  scions  of  the  Catalpa  tree,  a  native  of  America,  which 
grows  near  the  Ohio  River. 

Apr.  19,  3Ion.  Still  very  cold.  Catechised  the  children. 
The  greatest  number  I  ever  had  since  I  have  lived  in  the 
place.     Dr.  Orne  to  visit  me. 

3Iay  6,  Thurs.  This  day  Avas  appointed  by  the  Assembly 
of  this  State  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer.  The  same  day 
was  appointed  by  Congress  to  be  observed  for  the  same  pur- 
pose through  the  States  of  America.     Preached. 

3fat/  23,  Lord\  Day.  Preached.  Dr.  Kittredge  called  to 
see  Sam'l  Poland.  I  visited  him  Avith  the  Doctor — a  sensible 
man. 

May  25,  Tues.  Dined  with  the  field  and  commissioned  offi- 
cers of  Colonel  Thorndike's  regiment,  and  a  number  of  other 
gentlemen,  upon  the  common  in  Beverly,  under  a  tent  spread 
for  that  purpose.  The  regiment  was  paraded  on  this  occasion, 
and  made  a  tolerably  good  appearance.  Attended  Dr.  Spofford 
in  dressing  an  arm  which  he  had  amputated.  Came  home  by 
Wenham  to  see  my  small-pox  patients. 

July  6,  Tues.  Mr.  Willard  *  and  I  had  appointed  this  day  to 
wait  on  Dr.  Holyoke  to  see  some  experiments  performed  upon 
a  new  glass  machine  constructed  for  impregnating  water  with 
fixed  air.     The  air  passed  through    capillary  tubes,  alkaline 


*. Joseph  Willard,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  clergyman  and  President  of  Harvard 
University,  was  born  December  29,  IToS,  at  Beddeford,  Me.,  where  his 
lather,  Rev.  Samuel  Willard,  was  minister  from  1729  to  1741.  He  lost 
his  father  at  an  early  age,  and  went  to  .sea,  but  by  the  aid  of  friends 
entered  college,  and  grailuated  at  Harvard,  1765;  was  tutor  there  in 
1766-72.  He  was  ordained  colleague  with  I?ev.  Joseph  Champney  at 
Beverly,  November  25,  1772,  and  was  inducted  into  the  presidency  of 
Harvard  December  19,  1781.  He  published  a  few  seimons,  a  Latin 
address  on  the  death  of  Washington,  1800,  and  some  mathematical 
and  astronomical  papers  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  American  Academy. 
He  died  September  25,  iSO-t. — Drakes  Die.  Am.  Biog. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  75 

and  vitriolic  acids,  in  a  state  of  effervescence  to  the  Water,  and 
gave  it  the  taste  of  the  acid,  resembling  beer  or  bottled  cider. 

July  13,  Tues.  Dr.  Whitney  and  I  rode  to  Beverly  in  the 
chaise.  Sailed  out  in  the  new  brig.  Defense,  in  company  -with 
the  Cabots,  Captain  Brown,  and  others. 

Aug.  23,  Mon.  Carried  Mr.  Herrick  and  Mr.  Hartwell  to 
Beverly,  Avho  were  on  their  return  from  the  eastward  expedi- 
tion to  Penobscot. 

Aug.  27,  Fri.     Making  a  screw  to  express  oil  castor,  etc. 

Sept.  9,  TJiurs.     Preparing  my  medicines,  et-c. 

Sept.  12,  Lord's  Day.  Exchanged  with  Mr.  Frisbie.  Colonel 
Jackson's  regiment  passed  through  town,  on  their  way  from 
the  eastAvard,  and  came  as  far  as  here.  They  encamped  in  the 
Meeting  House.  The  field  officers,  Colonel  Cobb  and  Major 
Trescot,  put  up  with  me.  We  lodged  four  commissioned  offi- 
cers, and  supplied  the  soldiers  with  sauce,  milk,  wood,  etc., 
without  pay. 

Scjjt.  13,  Mon.  The  regiment  marched  this  morning  a  little 
after  sunrise.  They  behaved  exceeding  orderly.  They  were 
dressed  in  uniform,  and  made  a  very  fine  appearance,  and  are 
finely  officered. 

Sept.  21,  Tues.     Attended  Mr.  Rogers'  funeral  as  a  bearer. 

SejA.  24,  Fri.  Mrs.  Langdon  dined  and  spent  the  day 
with  us. 

Oct.  12,  Tues.  [At  Newbury.]  Spent  the  evening  at  Gen- 
eral Titcomb's.  A  new  brig  going  to  sea  overset  just  off  the 
bar.     Men  saved,  but  the  vessel  sank. 

Oct.  19,  Tues.  Mr.  Balch  and  I  attended,  at  Boston,  the 
town  meeting  convened  for  accepting  the  Resolves  of  a  Con- 
vention at  Concord  for  regulating  the  prices  of  goods  and  the 
necessaries  of  life.     A  number  of  good  speakers. 

Oct.  27,  Wed.  Visited  the  sick.  Rode  to  Mr.  Willard's  in 
the  afternoon,  and  carried  my  telescope.  Viewed  the  sun  and 
Mars.  In  the  evening,  we  measured  the  distance  of  some  of 
the  stars  with  a  sextant  and  telescope,  and  with  Hadley's 
quadrant. 

Nov.  4,  Thurs.     State  fast.     Preached. 

Nov.  10,  Wed.     Attended  Mr.  Prince's  ordination  at  Salem. 


76  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Nov.  25,  Thurs.  Parish  meeting.  Voted  me  £1,500  for 
the  present  year. 

Dec.  1,  Wed.  At  Beverlv.  Drank  tea  at  Andrew  Cabot's. 
Brought  home  Captain  Thorndike's  Hadley's  quadrant. 

Dec.  6,  3Ion.  Visited  sick.  Dined  at  Mrs.  Dabney's. 
Borrowed  her  thermometer. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  77 


CHAPTER   III. 

DiAKY  FROM  1780-17.'^") — SrrmKs  Botany — Establishes  Pritatp;  EoAnnixr, 
Sc'Hooi, — Amf.ru'.w  Acadf.my"  Arts  and  Scikxcks — Fii;8t  and  Siccond 
Journey  to  Wiuti:  IJili.s. 

Feb.  2,  1780.  Completed  a  Meteorological  Journal  for  Jan- 
uary for  the  printer.  Rode  to  Salem,  and  spent  the  evening 
at  Mr.  Andrevv'  Cabot's,  at  the  Club. 

Feb.  19,  iSat.  Finished  McBride's  Practice  of  Physic,  and 
the  making  extracts  from  him. 

3Iar.  10.     Stormy.     Engaged  in  the  study  of  botany. 

April  4.  Went  to  town  to  prove  Lieutenant  Smith's  "will. 
A  parish  Committee  came  to  make  a  computation  of  what 
was  due  to  me  for  the  years  1778  and  1779. 

April  8.  Attended  the  funeral  of  Captain  Bowman,  of 
Topsfield. 

April  26.  Continental  Fast  and  Annual  for  this  State. 
Preached.     A  full  meeting. 

Mai/  18.  Mr.  Sewall,  of  Cambridge,  and  his  wife,  here. 
This  morning  endeavored  to  observe  the  eclipse  of  the  moon, 
but  could  not  before  the  moon  set  in  a  cloud. 

3Ia>/  19,  Friday.     This  morning  Mr.  Lathrop,  of    Boston, 
called  upon  me.     Soon  after  he  came  in,  I  observed  a  remark-      ' 
able  cloud  coming  up  and  it  appeared  dark.     Mr.  Sewall  and 
Colonel  Wiggles  worth  came  in.     The  darkness  increased,  and 
by  11  o'clock  it  was  so  dark  as  to  make  it  necessary  to  light 
candles.     The  cloud  was  unusually  brassy,  with   little  or  no 
rain.     About  12  it  lighted  up  a  little,  then  grew  more  dark, 
and  at  1  o'clock  very  dark.     In  a  room  with  three  large  win- 
dows took  profiles,  by  candle,  as  well  as  in  the  night.     Could        | 
not  read  a  word  in  large  print  close  to   the  window.     Dined      "^ 
with  two  candles  on  the  table.     At  4  o'clock    it  grew  more_ 
light.     A  smell  was  observed   much  resemblina;  that  of  burn- 
ing  turf.     This  continued  till  10  o'clock  at  night.     (For  more 
particular  account,  see   my  Place  Book   for  remarkable   plie- 


,    \ 


78  Life  of  Rev.  llayiasseh  Cutler. 

nomcna.)  Mr.  Guile  here  about  4  o'clock.  Sent  by  him  to 
Holland  for  Dr.  White's  History  of  Plants.  Mr.  Lathrop  went 
to  Salem.     The  night  extremely  dark. 

May  20.  This  morning  cloudy.  Mr.  Sewall  set  out  for 
Newbury.  Exchanged  horses  with  Colonel  Wigglesworth.  Be- 
tween 9  and  10  o'clock  it  cleared  away.  Observed  the  sun  in 
the  telescope — a  large  number  of  black  spots  visible.  Mr. 
Jackson,  Mr.  Hilliard,  and  two  other  gentlemen  stopped  to 
look  at  it.  In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Dana  here.  Studied  very 
hard. 

Jlay  21,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached  in  the  afternoon  from 
Zechariah  14 :  67. 

May  24.  Attended  town-meeting  for  receiving  the  Consti- 
tution. 

[The  Constitution  of  Massachusetts  was  this  year  adopted 
by  the  people.] 

3Iay  29.  A  parish  meeting.  The  parish  sent  to  me  to 
know  if  I  would  take  the  sum  the  Committee  reported  for 
the  last  two  years,  which,  for  the  sake  of  peace,  I  consented 
to  accept,  if  paid  in  three  months. 

May  21,  Wednesday .  General  election.  Mr.  Everett,  Mr. 
Chickering,  and  I  rode  over  to  Boston.  The  General  Court 
was  escorted  to  the  Meeting  House  by  the  Independent  Com- 
pany, Avhere  an  excellent  sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Bev. 
Mr.  Howard.  After  the  services  a  handsome  entertainment 
was  provided  for  the  court  and  clergy  in  Faneuil  Hall.  After 
dinner  we  attended  the  Convention  at  the  new  court-house. 
But  few  ministers  present.  The  Bev.  Mr.  McCarty  chosen 
President.  He  to  preach  the  next  Convention  Sermon.  Mr. 
Mellen  his  second. 

June  1.  We  all  came  to  Boston  again  and  attended  Con- 
vention. Mr.  Bridge  preached  the  sermon.  Dined  Avith  Mr. 
Lathrop,  an  agreeable  company,  and  a  fine  entertainment. 
After  dinner  rode  to  Cambridge  and  lodged  with  Mr.  Wiggles- 
worth. 

June  2.  Spent  the  forenoon  with  Mr.  Williams  and  Mr. 
Sewall  in  examining  the  apparatus  and  library — much  enter- 
tained.    Dined  with   Mr.  Sewall,  in   company  with   Mr.  Bar- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manassah  Cutler.  79 

nard  and   Mr.   Prince.     Called  on  Mr.   Gannet  and  returned 
home. 

June  19.     Read  Dr.  Hale's  Veaietable  Statics. 

a 

June  29.  Mrs.  Cutler  and  I  made  a  visit  to  Mr.  Willard. 
Viewed  Saturn's  ring  through  the  telescope. 

July  3,  Monday.  Visited  the  sick.  Saw  Saturn's  rings 
through  my  glass. 

July  10.  At  Salem.  Bought  a  chaise  of  Mr.  Cook — gave 
him  £1,200,     Paid  him.     [Depreciated  currency.] 

July  11,  General  Titcomb,  Mr.  Holyoke,  and  Colonel  Wig- 
glesworth  dined  with  us,  Mr,  Garry,  a  member  of  Congress, 
here.     Mr.  Hemingway  drank  tea, 

July  18,  Attended  to  botany,  Mr.  Little  here  last  night, 
Mr.  Mansfield  dined. 

July  20,  Thursday.  Fast  through  the  State  on  account  of 
the  reduction  of  Charleston  (S,  C)  by  the  British  troops. 
Preached, 

July  28,  Lord's  Day.  Sacrament.  Preached.  Took  a  vote 
of  the  church  and  congregation  for  joining  with  Messrs.  Cleave- 
land,  Dana,  and  Frisbie  in  a  fast,  and  for  concert  in  prayer 
for  the  coming  of  Christ's  Kingdom. 

July  31.  Dr.  Langdon  here.  Studied  very  hard  in  prepar- 
ing for  the  fast. 

Aug.  1,  Tuesday.  Quarterly  Fast  at  Mr.  Frisbie's  Meeting 
House.  The  union  of  the  four  churches  was  then  completed — 
Mr,  Cleaveland's,*  Mr,  Dana's,  Mr,  Frisbie's,  and  ours,     Mr. 

*John  Cleaveland  was  a  native  of  Canterbury,  Conn.  He  had 
nearly  completed  his  course  in  Yale  College  when  he  and  his  brother, 
Ebenezer,  were  expelled  for  refusing  to  acknowledge  their  sin  in  at- 
tending, with  their  parents  while  at  home  in  vacation,  a  "  separatist 
meeting;"  that  is,  a  meeting  for  separate  worshij)  by  pei'sons  not  satis- 
fled  with  the  regular  pastor.  This  act  is  said  to  have  been  in  part  the 
cause  of  the  establishment  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  Man)^  years 
after  both  brothers  had  been  settled  in  the  Ministry,  Yale  College  re- 
lented and  conferred  degrees  upon  them.  John  Cleaveland  was  in 
1747  settled  over  a  small  congregation  in  Ipswich,  where  he  continued 
to  preach  until  his  death  in  1799.  He  served  as  Chaplain  in  Colonel 
Bagley's  Provincial  Regiment  in  the  Fiench  and  Indian  War  in  1758 
and  1759.  In  1775  and  1776  he  served  in  the  American  army  in  the 
same  capacity.     He  was  a  man  of  ability,  a  forcible  writer  and  speaker. 


80  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianassah  Culler. 

Frisbie  began  witli  prayer,  and  I  preached  in  the  morning; 
Mr.  Dana  began  with  prayer,  and  Mr.  Cleaveland  preached, 
afternoon.     Tolerably  full  meeting. 

Aug.  7.  Rode  to'  Andovcr,  At  Mr.  Holj'oke's  and  sundry 
places  at  Boxford. 

Aug.  8.  xVt  Mr.  Pearson's  at  Phillips'  School.  Spent  the 
forenoon  very  agreeably,  and  dined  with  him  and  Mr.  Mason, 
his  assistant.     Returned  home. 

Aug.  13,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached  in  Salem  for  Mr.  Prince. 
Drunk  tea  at  Judge  Lynde's.  My  horse  got  out  of  the  pasture. 
Judge  Lynde  sent  his  negro  man  to  bring  me  home. 
•  Aug.  19.  Messrs.  John,  Andrew,  and  George  Cabot,  Captains 
Brown,  Dobson  and  Homans,  Drs.  Spoftbrd,  Whitney,  and  myself 
went 'a  o-unnina;  at  Patch's  Beach.  Found  but  few  birds.  A 
very  agreeable  but  fatiguing  time. 

[The  following  letter  to  Prof.  Williams,  of  Harvard  College, 
shows  some  of  the  difficulties  Mr.  Cutler  had  to  contend  with 
in  pursuing  his  favorite  stiidies,  and  how  much  the  lack  of 
needed  instruments  and  books  retarded  his  progress  at  this 
time]  : 

Ipswich,  June  20,  1780. 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  read  Dr.  Hale's  Statical  Essays,  which 
YOU  was  so  kind  as  to  procure  for  me,  with  pleasure.  His  ex- 
periments appear  to  have  been  made  with  great  accuracy  and 
judgment,  his  inferences  clear,  and  reasoning  satisfactory. 
The  only  solid  foundation  for  advances  in  the  real  knowledge 
of  nature,  whose  W'Onderful  and  secret  operations  are  so  in- 
volved and  intricate,  .so  far  out  of  the  reach  of  our  senses, 
must  be  by  a  regular  series  of  experiments.  The  Doctor's 
discoveries  in  his  vegetable  statics  are  not  only  philosophical, 
but  must  be  very  useful  in  the  culture  and  improvement  of 
vegetables  and  fruit  trees.  He  has  demonstrated  many  facts  I 
have  long  wished  to  ascertain,  but,  notwithstanding  the  re- 
searches this  sagacious  genius  has  made,  such  a  field  opens 


fond  of  controversy,  but  honcM'ed  and  respected  by  his  congregation 
and  the  community  in  whicli  lie  lived. 

His  Journal  for  the  campaign  of  1  758  is  published  in  the  Historical 
Collections  of  the  Essex  Institute,  1874,  from  which  this  sketch  is  also 
condensed. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  81 

that  an  innumerable  variety  of   subjects   present  themselves 
that  admit  of  further  inquiries. 

Our  climate  being  incident  to    much  greater  changes,  es- 
pecially in  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  and  the  difference 
and  variety  of  soils  will  necessarily  vary  our  natural  history 
of  vegetation  (though   the  general  principles  will  be  the  same)* 
from  that  of  Middlesex,  in  England. 

An  Apparatus  can  not  at  present  be  procured  among  us,  and 
but  few  have  leisure  to  go  through  such  a  course  of  experi- 
ments as  might  be  wished  for,  but,  I  think,  Avithout  much  of 
an  Apparatus,  or  expense  of  time,  many  useful  experiments 
and  observations  may  be  made.  Such  experiments  as  are 
within  our  power,  and  careful  attention  to  the  state  of  the  at- 
mosphere, and  the  various  circumstances  of  vegetation  in 
plants  and  trees,  may  be  found  useful. 

We  are  in  our  infancy,  but  such  attempts  in  the  day  of  our 
small  things  will  not  be  despised.  I  have  thought  of  several 
experiments  Avhich  I  fancy  may  be  worth  making,  but  can  not 
Avell  proceed  without  a  Barometer.  I  have  a  prospect  of  get- 
ting a  tube  soon,  which  you  have  been  so  kind  as  to  offer  to  fill 
with  the  mercury.  The  scale  I  can  get  made  in  Salem,  if  I 
could  procure  a  Barometer  for  a  pattern,  but  there  is  none 
in  that  town.  When  I  have  got  the  materials,  must  beg  the 
favor  of  your  filling  it. 

The  Meterological  Journal,  which  I  began  last  December,  I 
continued  to  the  first  of  May,  in  which  I  noted  the  height  of 
the  mercury  in  Fahrenheit's  Thermometer  in  the  morning,  noon, 
and  night ;  the  course  and  quantity  of  the  wind,  weather,  a 
particular  description  of  every  Aurora  Borealis,  and  the  dis- 
eases in  this  Town,  Beverly,  and  Salem.  I  propose  to  begin 
my  observations  again  the  first  day  of  July,  with  the  addition 
of  such  remarks  upon  the  vegetation  of  plants,  trees,  and 
fruits  as  may  be  worth  noting.  But  I  very  sensibly  feel  the 
want  of  a  Barometer,  Avithout  which  my  Journal  must  be  very 
defective.  If  there  is  any  gentleman  of  your  acquaintance  in 
Boston  who  has  a  Barometer,  and  makes  little  use  of  it^ 
and  Avould  be  so  kind  as  to  favor  me  with  it,  until  I  can 
get  one  completed,  shall  consider  it  as  a  very  particular  favor ; 
6 


82  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

will  use  it  with  the  utmost  care,  and  return  it  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. 

I  have  given  as  much  attention  to  botanical  matters,  since 
the  spring,  as  my  leisure  would  admit;  among  some  other 
things,  have  found  a  vegetable,  the  most  singular  and  remark- 
'able  production  of  nature  in  its  fructification  I  ever  saw,  and 
to  which  I  can  find  nothing  similar  in  any  author  I  have  by 
me.  If  I  had  Dr.  Hill's  Natural  History,  I  imagine  I  could 
make  it  certain  whether  that,  as  well  as  some  other  plants, 
have  ever  been  taken  notice  of  by  Botanists.  I  have  sent  to 
Europe  for  it,  but,  if  it  should  fail  of  coming,  I  wish  to  know 
if  it  would  be  improper  to  make  application  to  the  Corpora- 
tion for  leave  to  take  the  2d  Vol.  out  of  the  Library  for  a 
short  time. 

I  heartily  wish  a  course  of  observations  similar  to  those  I 
propose  might  be  made  in  some  other  parts  of  the  State  at  the 
same  time,  to  be  compared.  Perhaps,  if  it  should  be  men- 
tioned at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Academy,  some  of  the  mem- 
bers will  undertake. 

Please  present  my  regards  to  Mr.  Sewall  and  Lad}^,  and 
give  me  leave  to  subscribe, 

Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

Prof.  Williams.  M.  Cutler. 

To  THE  Honorable  &  Reverend,  the  Corporation  of  Har- 
vard College. 
Gentlemen : — Permit  me  to  represent  to  your  Honorable 
and  Reverend  Board  that  I  have  been  endeavoring,  with  con- 
siderable labor  and  pains,  to  investigate  the  botanical  char- 
acters of  such  Trees  and  Plants  as  may  fall  under  my  ob- 
servation, which  are  indigenous  to  this  part  of  America,  and 
have  not  been  described  by  Botanists ;  also  to  make  out  a 
Catalogue  of  those  Avhich  are  found  growing  here,  but  have 
been  found  in  other  parts  of  the  World,  and  therefore  need  no 
botanical  description ;  and  of  such  as  have  been  propagated 
here,  but  are  not  the  spontaneous  production  of  the  Country, 
An  attempt  of  this  kind,  which  I  am  not  sensible  has  yet  been 
undertaken,  will  be   necessary  to  furnish  jnaterials  for  a  Nat- 


Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler.  83 

ural  History  of  the  Country,  in  -which  we  are,  at  present,  very 
deficient. 

But  I  find  myself  unable  to  prosecute  my  Plan  for  want  of 
some  of  the  latest  botanical  Publications,  not  only  for  deter- 
mining, with  more  accuracy,  the  botanical  characters  of  Trees 
and  Plants,  but  especially  for  ascertaining  those  which  have 
already  been  discovered  and  described.  I  have  sent  to  Europe 
for  several  books,  and  particularly  for  Dr.  Hill's  Natural  His- 
tory, but  none  of  them  could  be  procured.  I  can  not  find 
that  any  of  those  books,  which  will  be  of  much  advantage,  are 
any-where  in  this  State,  except  in  the  College  Library. 

I  therefore  beg  leave  to  request  that  your  Honorable  and 
Reverend  Board  will  grant  me  the  favor  of  Dr.  Hill's  Natural 
History  from  the  College  Library  for  a  short  time,  and  I  Avill 
be  accountable  for  the  careful  usage  and  safe  return  of  it  to 
the  Library  again,  and  will  pay  whatever  sum  shall  be  required 
for  the  use  of  it.  Such  a  favor  will  confer  a  very  special  ob- 
ligation on,  Gentlemen, 

Your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Ipswich,  Jan.  18,  1781.  M.  Cutler. 

Jan.  31,  1781,  Wed.  This  day  the  American  Academy  of 
Arts  and  Sciences  met  for  the  first  time,  to  do  business,  after 
they  were  organized,  when  I  had  the  honor  of  being  elected  a 
member ;  and  was  accordingly,  by  their  order,  notified  of  it 
by  Mr.  Secretary  Willard. 

Feb.  6,  Tues.  Quarterly  fast  at  Mr.  Dana's.  A  very  fine 
day,  and  full  meeting.  Mr.  Dana  began  with  prayer,  and  I 
preached,  in  the  forenoon ;  Mr.  Frisbie  prayed,  and  Mr. 
Cleaveland  preached,  afternoon. 

3Iar.  13,  Tues.  Thomas  Balch  went  from  here  to  go  to  sea 
with  Captain  Edmunds,  bound  to  Bilboa.  Has  been  here  since 
he  came  from  sea  in  December.  Taught  him  the  art  of  navi- 
gation. 

,  3Iar.  1(3,  Fri.  Made  my  last  observation  (in  the  whole, 
forty  observations),  to  settle  the  latitude  of  my  house.  The 
sun's  altitude  having  now  exceeded  90  degrees  on  Hadley's 
quadrant. 

Apr.  2,  Hon.     Violent  storm  from  N.  E.     I  proposed  cate- 


84  Life  of  Rev.  Manaaseh  Cutler. 

chising  the  children  at  the  Meeting  House,  but  the  storm 
prevented. 

April  9,  3Ion.  Rode  to  Middletown,  and  visited  Mr.  Smith. 
Got  five  scions  of  the  Balm  of  Gilead. 

Ajjr.  11,  Wed.  Received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Forbes,*  invit- 
ing me  to  observe  the  eclipse  at  Cape  Ann, 

[Here  a  leaf  of  the  manuscript  is  gone.] 

Apr.  16,  3Ion.  .  .  .  came  just  as  we  had  determined 
the  station  where  we  should  erect  our  observatory.  I  carried 
my  time-piece,  which  we  fixed  on  the  trunk  of  a  tree ;  and, 
having  cut  off  the  top,  a  tent  was  erected  over  it.  The  gentle- 
men at  Cape  Ann  provided  lodgings,  and  afforded  us  every 
aid  in  their  power.     We  lodged  at  Mr.  Baker's. 

Apr.  17,  Tues.  Began  to  take  corresponding  altitudes  for 
refyulating-  our  time-pieces.     Came  home. 

Apr.  18,  Wed.  Went  to  Salem,  to  get  an  azimuth  compass 
of  Mr.  King,  and  returned  to  Cape  Ann. 

Aj^r.  20,  Fri.  Rained  all  day.  We  went  up  to  the  Harbor. 
Dined  and  lodged  at  Mr.  W^hittemore's,  drank  tea  at  Dr. 
Plummer's,  and  spent  the  evening  at  Captain  Epes  Sargent's. 

Apr.  21,  jSat.  Returned  early  in  the  morning  to  our  ob- 
servatory.    Took  altitudes.     Very  windy. 

Apr.  22,  Lord's  Lay.  Mr.  Smith  had  engaged  to  go  and 
preach  for  me,  but  he  failed ;  and  Mr.  Kendall,  who  was 
preaching  at  the  Cape,  went  to  the  Hamlet,  and  Mr.  Smith 
preached  for  him  ;  so  I  was  at  liberty  to  attend  at  the  observa- 
tory all  day.  Mr.  Willard  exchanged  with  Mr.  Forbes,  and 
preached  at  the  Harbor.  We  took  our  altitudes,  and  I  took 
the  sun  on  the  meridian. 

Apr.  23,  Mon.  This  day  the  eclipse  happened.  Flying 
clouds  this  morning,  but  we  were  able  to  take  altitudes  with 

*  Rev.  Eli  Forbes,  born  at  Westborough,  Mass.,  October,  1726;  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  College  in  1751  ;  was  ordain^-d  minister  in  Brooktield 
in  1752.  In  1758,  and  again  in  1759,  he  served  as  chapluin  in  the 
provincial  regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Timothy  Ruggles.  In 
June,  1776,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  at  Gloucester,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death  in  1:S04.  Harvard  College  conferred  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  upon  him  in  1804.  Dr.  Forbes  possessed 
a  fine  scientific  taste,  well  cultivated,  and  corresponded  with  many 
eminent  men  of  his  day.     See  note  to  Putnam  s  Journal. 


Life  of  Rev.  Matiasseh  Cutler.  85 

groat  exactness.  Mr.  Prince  came  from  Salem  to  observe 
with  us.  The  clouds  thickened  towards  12  o'clock ;  Ave  took 
the  sun,  however,  tolerably  upon  the  meridian.  At  20  min- 
utes after  12  we  applied  to  our  telescopes,  but  could  see  the 
sun  only  now  and  then,  and  viewed  it  for  the  most  part  with- 
out colored  glasses.  We  none  of  us  saw  the  first  contact; 
but,  when  the  cloud  passed  which  had  obscured  the  sun  at 
that  time,  we  judged  it  had  begun  about  10  seconds,  and  so 
fixed  the  time  at  1  40'  20".  We  could  see  the  sun  at  times 
until  near  the  middle  of  the  eclipse,  when  the  clouds  thick- 
ened, and  we  saw  it  no  more.  A  great  number  of  gentlemen 
attended  with  us,  and  shared  with  us  in  the  disappointment. 
We  took  down  our  time-pieces,  and  came  up  to  the  Harbor, 
having  in  a  great  measure  failed  in  our  design.  We  got  the 
latitude  and  measured  the  distances  of  a  number  of  noted 
places.  We  drank  tea  at  Mr.  Peter  Coffin's,  and  spent  a  very 
agreeable  evening  at  Mr.  Whittemore's,  Avhere  Mr.  Willard 
and  I  lodged. 

Ajjr.  24,  Tues.  Rainy.  We  all  breakfasted  at  Mr.  John 
Roger's.  Spent  the  forenoon  at  Mr.  Whittemore's,  where  we 
were  entertained  with  a  number  of  very  fine  pieces  of  music. 
We  dined  at  Mr.  Forbes',  after  which  Mr.  Willard,  Mr.  Prince, 
and  myself  set  out  for  home. 

J/a?/  3,  Thurs.     Continental  Annual  Fast.     Preached. 

May  11,  Fri.  Mr.  Whipple,  Mrs.  Cutler,  and  myself  went 
to  Newbury  Port.  Dined  at  Colonel  Wigglesworth's.  At 
Mr.  John  Tracy's,  viewed  his  garden ;  very  fine.  He  gave 
me  a  large  assortment  of  flower  seeds. 

3Iay  12,  Sat.  Came  home.  Colonel  Wigglesworth  and 
Captain  Tileston  gave  me  a  barometer. 

May  24,  25.     Preparing  papers  for  the  Academy. 

May  29,  Tues.  Mr.  Willard  and  I  went  to  Boston,  and  at- 
tended the  Academy  at  the  Court-house.  About  twenty-two 
members  present.  Several  communications.  I  communicated 
a  meteorological  journal  of  the  weather,  from  July,  1780, 
with  the  diseases  most  prevalent  in  Ipswich,  Beverly,  and 
Salem.  I  also  presented  the  Society  a  sample  of  sheet-lint, 
from  Dr.  Spofi'ord,  who  has  contrived  a  machine  for  scraping 
it  with  great  dexterity.     It  was  much  admired. 


86  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

3Iay  30,  Wed.  Election  of  Governor,  etc.  No  military 
parade  or  public  dinner.  Mr.  Clark,  of  Lexington,  preached. 
Mr.  Willard  and  I  dined  at  Mr.  Lowell's.  I  went  over  to 
Dorchester  at  night,  and  lodged  at  Mr.  Everett's.  Mr.  Chick- 
ering  and  Oliver  there. 

Maij  31,  TJnirs.  Mr.  Everett  and  his  brother  Oliver,  Mr. 
Chickering  and  I,  came  over  to  Boston,  and  attended  Conven- 
tion sermon.  Mr.  Mellen  preached.  LTsual  collection.  A 
vote  of  Convention  to  address  the  Governor.  Dined  at  Dr. 
Cooper's,  spent  the  evening  at  Dr.  Eliot's,  and  lodged  at  Mr. 
Williams'. 

June  1,  Fri.  Mr.  Willard  and  I  came  home.  Dined  at 
Mr.  Payson's  ;  drank  tea  at  Dr.  Holyoke's. 

Jime  5,  Tues.  I  went  to  Salem  to  get  a  nonius  fitted  to 
my  barometer.  Dined  at  Mr.  Page's.  Major  Hiller  and 
Mullicks  fitted  my  nonius  very  wdl. 

June  16,  Sat.  Rode  to  Newbury.  At  Dummer's  School. 
At  Colonel  Wigglesworth's,  etc. 

June  19,  'J lies.  Rode  to  Beverly,  and  went  to  Mr.  Wil- 
lard's  with  Mr.  Barnard,  Mr.  Prince,  and  Mr.  Fisher.  The 
Proprietors  of  the  Philosophical  Library  we  lately  purchased, 
met  at  Mr.  Willard's  to  overhaul  the  books  and  repair  them  ; 
which  we  did,  and  established  the  regulations  of  the  Proprie- 
tary. We  valued  a  share  at  thirty  hard  dollars.  Chose  Mr. 
Willard,  Librarian ;  and  Mr.  Prince,  Clerk.  Took  out  books 
regularly. 

Jnlij  18,  Wed.  Commencement  at  Cambridge.  Mr.  Safford 
and  I  set  out  at  day-break,  in  the  chaise,  for  Cambridge,  and 
arrived  at  9  o'clock.  A  fine  Commencement.  I  dined  in  the 
Hall.     At  night  went  to  Boston. 

Aug.  8-11.     Preparing  papers  for  the  Academy. 

Aug.  13-17.  Preparing  papers  for  the  Academy  of  Arts 
and  Sciences. 

Aug.  20,  Mon.     Preparing  for  Cambridge. 

Aug.  21,  Tues.     Mr.  Willard  and  I  set  out  for  Cambridge. 

Aug.  22,  Wed.  The  Academy  met  at  the  Philosophy  Hall. 
Several  communications.  Some  members  chosen.  A  gentle- 
man from  England  recommended  by  the  General  Court  to  the 
Academy  to  be  employed  under  our  direction  as  a  mechanic* 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  87 

Dined  with  Mr.  Secretary  Gannet,  and  drank  tea  at  Mr.  Se- 
wall's. 

Aug.  23,  Thurs.  Invited  to  dine  with  the  President  at 
Boston.     After  dinner  came  home. 

Sept.  8,  Sat.     Rode  to  Marblehead  to  preach  for  Mr.  Story. 

Sept.  10,  31on.  As  I  came  home  Dr.  Fisher  and  Dr.  Spof- 
ford  desired  me  to  assist  them  in  opening  the  body  of  Mrs. 
Brown  of  Wrenham.     (See  account,  etc.) 

Sept.  21,  F)'i.     Mr.  Fitch  and  wife  came  here. 

Sept.  23.     Mr.  Fitch  preached. 

Oct.  16.     Dr.  Stiles  here. 

Oct.  21,  Lord's  Bay.  Preached.  Mr.  Willard  lodged  with 
us.     Was  going  to  Portsmouth. 

Nov.  14,  Wed.  Mr.  Payson  and  I  rode  over  to  Cambridge 
to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  American  Academy.  But  few 
members  present.  Dined  at  Prof.  Williams'.  Took  out  of 
the  College  Library  Catesby's  Natural  History  of  the  Caro- 
linas. 

Dec.  13,  Thurs.  Thanksgiving  through  the  States  of 
America. 

Dec.  15,  Sat.     Read  Catesby. 

Dec.  24-27.  Read  Catesby's  Natural  History  of  the  Caro- 
linas  and  Bahama  Islands. 

Dec.  29,  Sat.  At  Mr.  Sumner's.  Heard  of  the  death  of 
Brother  Thomas  Balch, 

[Dr.  Cutler  spent  much  time  with  his  books  in  1781,  and 
"studied  hard."] 

[Thomas  Balch,  mentioned  in  the  Journal,  was  Mrs. 
Cutler's  youngest  brother.  He  had  been  educated  in  Di- 
Cutler's  family.  Although  scarcely  arrived  at  man's  estate 
love  of  adventure  attracted  him  to  the  sea,  and  in  March,  1781, 
he  sailed  with  Captain  Edmunds  for  Bilboa. 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chickering,  of  Ded- 
ham,  and  dated  "  Ipswich,  Dec.  29th,  1781,"  Dr.  Cutler  sends 
to  his  mother  the  following  account  of  his  death : 

"  Dear  Brother : — The  frequently  changing  scenes  that  await 
us  in  life  may  prepare  our  minds  for  every  event  of  Providence, 
and  convince  us  that  all  our  hopes  and  expectations,  from  our 


88  Life  of  Rev.  Manassah  Cutler. 

friends,  are  liable  to  he  cut  off.  We  have  an  affecting  instance 
of  the  mutability  of  present  things,  in  the  melancholy  fate  of 
Captain  Edmunds,  and  the  most  of  his  officers  and  men,  of 
whom  there  are  now  but  very  few  living. 

"  He  was  taken  by  a  fifty-gun  ship,  the  Chatham,  off  Cape 
Ann,  and  carried  to  Halifax,  agreeably  to  the  account  I  wrote 
to  Madam  [Balch],  which  she  has  doubtless  received.  We 
have  been  able  to  get  no  particular  accounts  from  them  since 
they  were  captured  until  a  Cartel  arrived  the  day  before  yes- 
terday at  Cape  Ann.  I  have  been  this  day  to  see  Captain 
Treadwell,  of  this  town,  who  was  a  prize-master  on  board 
Captain  Edmunds,  and  came  in  the  Cartel.  He  informs  me 
that  before  thev  arrived  at  Halifax  an  American  vessel  had 
been  taken,  which  had  the  yellow-fever  and  small-pox  on  board. 
This  communicated  these  two  most  fatal  diseases  to  the  peo- 
ple on  board  ship,  and  few  that  had  them  recovered.  Brother 
Thomas  was  taken  with  this  fever  after  they  had  been  some  time 
there,  and  was  carried  on  shore,  where  as  good  care  and  at- 
tendance was  afforded  as  could  be  expected.  After  some  time 
he  recovered,  and  got  so  well  as  to  return  to  the  ship  again, 
but  the  fever  relapsed,  and-  he  was  carried  back  to  the  Hos- 
pital, where  he  expired  in  a  few  days.  Captain  Treadwell  is 
uncertain  Avhat  day  he  died,  but  it  was  the  first  of  this  month, 
about  three  weeks  before  he  sailed,  which  was  on  the  24th.  As 
the  people  were  allowed  their  chests,  and  what  Avas  in  them 
when  taken,  and  had  made  a  good  voyage,  Captain  Treadwell 
thinks  he  never  wanted  for  things  that  were  comfortable  while 
he  Avas  sick.  This  may  afford  us  some  consolation  under  this 
bereaving  dispensation. 

"I  feel  exceedingly  for  Madam,  who,  I  fear,  will  be  quite 
overcome  with  these  melancholy  tidings.  I  have  therefore 
thought  it  most  proper  to  address  my  letter  to  you,  and  beg 
you  will  communicate  the  sorrowful  news  to  her,  in  the  man- 
ner you  shall  think  the  least  liable  to  surprise  and  overcome 
her."] 

[Dr.  Cutler  was  an  enthusiast  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge, 
and,  particularly  apt  to  teach,  he  often  had  pupils  under  his 
instruction.     In  1782  he  decided  to  devote  more  time  to  the 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasaeh  Cutler.  89 

business  of  teaching,  and  accordingly  opened  his  popuLir  and 
successful  Private  Boarding  School,  which  was  continued  for 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  His  son,  Temple  Cutler, 
Esq.,  gives,  in  his  manuscript  notes,  some  account  of  this 
school.  "  Soon  after  his  settlement  at  the  hamlet,  he  com- 
menced a  school  in  his  own  house  for  the  instruction  of  youth, 
not  only  in  the  various  branches  of  an  English  education,  but 
also  fitted  some  for  college.  He  often  had  with  him  young 
gentlemen  engaged  in  the  study  of  theology.  As  early  as 
1782,  he  established  his  Private  Boarding  School.  Many 
young  men,  sons  of  merchants  in  the  West  India  Islands,  of 
various  nations,  French,  Spanish,  and  Dutch,  obtained  their 
English  education  with  him.  Some  of  the  most  eminent  mer- 
chants in  Salem,  Gloucester,  Boston,  and  other  neighboring 
towns,  received  the  most  of  their  education,  or  were  prepared 
for  college,  in  his  school.  They  were  of  the  families  of  Cabot, 
Derby,  Grafton,  Lowell,  Peele,  Silsbee,  Pearce  of  Gloucester, 
Phelps,  Conant,  Low,  and  many  more  not  now  recollected. 
He  also  taught  seamen  the  art  of  navigation,  giving  instruc- 
tions particularly  in  lunar  observations,  then  little  practiced 
by  navigators.  Watkins,  of  Salem,  Avho  published  a  Nautical 
Almanac  much  used,  was  one  of  his  scholars  at  Hamilton. 
Among  those  he  prepared  for  college  were  the  late  Willard 
Peele,  Esq.,  and  the  Hon.  Nath'l  Silsbee,  colleague  of  Daniel 
Webster  in  the  U.  S.  Senate." 

The  Hon.  Mr.  Silsbee,  in  a  letter  dated  August  1,  1849, 
says  of  Dr.  Cutler :  "  During  the  four  years  that  I  was  Dr. 
Cutler's  pupil,  and  a  resident  in  his  family,  very  much  of  his 
time  was  devoted  to  botany,  so  much  so  as  to  attract  attention, 
and  to  cause  frequent  calls  upon  him  from  different  parts  of 
our  own  country,  and  occasionally  from  Europe."] 

Jan.  25,  1782.  Mr.  Bly  drew  the  profiles  of  Mrs.  Cutler 
and  myself  in  miniature. 

Jan.  30,  Wed.  Attended  the  meeting  of  the  Academy  in 
Boston.  Dined  with  Mr.  Bowdoin.  The  Academy  met  in 
the  afternoon  at  Mr.  Bowdoin's.  Made  my  communication 
and  returned  to  Cambridge. 

Feb.  26,  Tues.    Went  to  Salem.    Dined  at  Captain  Saunders'. 


90  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

'       Engaged  to  take  several  scholars.     Borrowed  a  telescope  from 
Mrs.  Hiffo-inson. 

Mar.  22,  Fri.     Began  observations  to  regulate    my  clock 
for  the  approaching  eclipse.     From  3Iar.  23  to  Mar.  27,  made 
"^     daily  observations. 

^'       Mar.  28,  Tliurs.    Fine  air.    Made  good  observations.    This 
'    evening  preparing  for  observing   the  lunar  eclipse,  which  be- 
gan at  —  o'clock.     Mr.  Emerson  and  Mr.  Herrick,  of  Wenham, 
attended  and  sat  up  all  night  with  me,  and  all  my  scholars  at- 
-     tended  to  the  clocks  during  the  eclipse.     The  air  was  very 
clear.      Made    a    good    observation.      [Vide    account.)      The 
eclipse  did  not  go  off  till  after  the  daylight  had  considerably 
advanced. 
'         Mar.  29,  Fri.     Indisposed  for  any  thing,  but  made  an  ob- 
servation on  the  sun's  altitude,  and  ascertained  the  going  of 
my  clock. 

Apr.  3,  Wed.  Began  to  plow.  Planted  my  West  India 
seeds  in  hot-bed,  as  far  as  No.  12. 

Apr.  8,  3Ion.     Took  altitudes. 

Apr.  9,  Tues.  Sowed  all  my  West  India  seeds.  No 
altitudes. 

Apr.  11,  Thurs.  Cloudy.  Got  altitudes  in  the  morning, 
but  none  in  the  afternoon.  Lecture.  Preached  myself. 
After  lecture  Avent  to  a  wedding  at  Limebrook. 

A2?r.  12,  Fri.  An  eclipse  of  the  sun.  Fine  day.  (See 
observation.)  Mr.  Prince  and  Mr.  Page,  of  Salem,  Dr. 
Fisher  and  wife,  Mr.  Swain,  Mr.  Parsons  and  wife,  Mr. 
Rogers,  Mr.  Fuller,  and  others.  My  school  lads  counted 
clock.     All  dined.     A  good  observation.     Much  fatigued. 

Ajrr.  23,  Tues.  Went  to  Newbury.  Dined  at  General 
Titcomb's.  Called  on  Mr.  Parsons,  the  lawyer,  and  returned. 
Stormy. 

Ajyr.  24,  Wed.  Set  out  some  mazzard  cherries  I  brought 
from  Mr.  Balch's,  at  Newbury,  and  some  thyme  and  hawk's 
weed.     Budded  several  cherries  and  one  plum  tree. 

Apr.  25,  Thurs.  Fast  throughout  the  States  of  America. 
Preached.     Pretty  full  meeting. 

Apr.  28,  Lord's  Bay.     Preached   at   Marblehead  for  Mr. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  91 

Story.  The  parish  consented  that  I  shouhl  give  him  and  his 
people  a  day,  on  account  of  Mr.  Story's  long  bad  state  of 
health.     No  preaching  here.     Came  home. 

3Im/  6,  3Ion.  Took  Captain  Grant's  and  Captain  Much- 
more's  sons  to  instruct  them. 

May  7,  T^ies.  Captain  Cabot's  and  Captain  Cleaveland's 
sons  came  to  school. 

Mai/  13-17.  Preparing  my  observations  of  the  two  late 
eclipses  to  present  to  the  Academy. 

May  28,  Tues.  Went  to  Boston.  Attended  the  meeting  of 
the  Academy.  Dined  at  Mr.  Bowdoin's.  Communicated  my 
observations  of  the  lunar  and  solar  eclipses.  Went  over  to 
Dorchester. 

June  4.  Attended  my  boys,  which  now  arrived  to  the 
number  of  nine  from  Salem. 

Juli/  17,  Wed.  Commencement.  Mrs.  Cutler,  Mrs.  Hitch- 
born,  and  I  went  from  Boston  to  Cambridge  in  our  chaise. 
Dined  in  the  Hall.     Mrs.  Cutler  dined  at  the  President's. 

Juli/  19,  Fri.  Rode  over  to  Cambridge  to  offer  Sam'l 
Gardener  and  William  Dodge.     Both  entered. 

Aug.  1-3.  Had  a  window  cut  out  in  the  school-room. 
Tables  finished  for  my  boys,  and  twenty  stools. 

Aug.  5-11.  Nothing  material  this  week,  except  that  Tues- 
day was  our  quarterly  fast  at  Mr.  Frisbie's.  Mr.  Frisbie  be- 
gan with  prayer,  I  preached,  and  Mr.  Dana  prayed.  After 
noon  Mr.  Cleaveland  prayed,  and  Mr.  Bradford  preached  and 
prayed.     Exercise  four  hours  long. 

Sept.  4,  Wed.     1  went  to  the  Beach  at  Mr.  Patches'  with  all ' 
the  boys. 

Sept.  22,  Lord's  Day.  Mr.  Carnes  preached  all  day  for 
me.  I  proposed  to  the  church  that  Thursday,  the  day  of  our 
lecture,  should  be  solemnized  as  a  fast,  on  account  of  the  ex- 
treme drought,  which  they  complied  with,  and  I  proposed  it 
to  the  Congregation. 

Sept.  25,  Wed.  Attended  fast  at  Chebacco,  on  account  of 
the  drought. 

Sept.  26,  Thurs.     Fast  here  on  account  of  the  drought. 

Oet.  5j  Sat.     French  Troops  marched  by. 


92  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Oct.  6,  Lord's  Lay.  Agreed  upon  an  exchange  with  Mr. 
Frisbie,*  but  the  French  Troops  having  lodged  in  his  Meeting 
House,  he  had  no  meeting,  but  came  and  preached  for  me  all 
day. 

Oct.  7,  Mon.     Attended  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Rogers,  of  Cape 

Ann — Mr.  Cleaveland,  ]Mr.  ,  Mr.  Bowman,  Mr.  Frisbie, 

Mr.  Fuller,  and  myself,  bearers. 

Oct.  21-25.  Went  to  Portsmouth  with  President  Willard 
to  see  the  America  launched,  a  ship  of  seventy-four  guns,  but 
she  did  not  go  off  the  stocks.  Lodged  at  Mr.  Sheaf's  ;  very 
kindly  entertained. 

Oct.  27,  Lord's  Day.  President  Willard  preached  for  me 
all  day. 

Nov.  7,  Thurs.  Received  an  excellent  sextant  from  New- 
bury. 

Nov.  12,  Lues.  Observed  the  Transit  of  Mercury  over  the 
Sun's  disk.  Obtained  the  first  internal,  the  second  do.,  and 
the  second  external  contact. 

Ipswich,  Aug.  10,  1782. 
To  Mr.  Tiieophilus  Parsons,  Neavburgh. 

Sir: — The  rare  Phenomenon  of  a  conjunction  of  the  Plan- 
ets Saturn  and  Jupiter  is  expected  to  take  place  about  the 
last  of  October  or  beginning  of  November,  but  you  are  sen- 
sible that  these  large  bodies  powerfully  act  on  each  other  in 
this  situation,  and  while  the  centripetal  force  of  the  Sun  on 
Saturn  is  increased,  it  is  diminished  on  Jupiter,  by  which 
means  they  are  greatly  disturbed  in  their  motions.  The  pre- 
cise  time,  therefore,  of  their  conjunction  can  not  be   ascer- 


*Rev.  Levi  Frisbie,  born  at  Branford,  Conn.,  1748,  entered  Yale  Col- 
lege, 1767.  where  he  remained  three  years,  then  graduated  at  Dart- 
mouth, 1771,  in  the  first  class  graduated  at  tliat  institution.  He  was 
ordained  a  missionary  to  the  Indians,  1772,  but  was  prevented  from 
performing  this  service  by  sickness  and  the  Revolutionary  War.  He 
was  installed  at  Ipswich,  7th  February,  1776,  successor  of  Rev.  Nathan- 
iel Rogers,  and  was  an  able  and  successful  minister,  and  an  earnest 
patriot.  When  the  tidings  of  peace  came,  in  1783,  he  was  selected  by 
the  town  to  deliver  an  oration,  which  was  published,  as  was  his  Eulogy 
of  Washington,  in  1  f^OO.  Mr.  Frisbie  died  February  25,  1806,  aged  58 
years.  Prof.  Levi  Frisbie,  of  Harvard  University,  was  his  son.  See 
Felts'  Hist.  Ipswich. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  93 

tained  by  our  best  Astronomical  Tables.  I  have  been  desired  to 
make  observations  of  their  approach  to  each  other,  in  order  to 
determine  the  true  time  of  their  conjunction,  but  find  myself 
unable  to  make  the  necessary  observations  vrithout  a  sextant. 
If  you  should  not  attend  to  this  matter,  and  have  no  present 
occasion  for  your  sextant,  and  will  be  so  kind  as  to  favor  me 
"with  tlie  loan  of  it  until  tliis  phenomenon  has  taken  place,  you 
will  do  me  a  very  particular  favor.  You  may  depend  on  its 
being  very  carefully  used  and  safely  returned. 

Captain  Wigglesworth  will  wait  on  you  with  this  letter,  and 
I  have  requested  him,  should  you  favor  me  with  the  sextant, 
to  take  charge  of  it,  and  convey  it  to  me  by  a  safe  hand. 

I  am,  sir,  with  sentiments  of  great  esteem, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

M.  Cutler. 

Jan.  1,  1783.  Went  to  Marblehead  to  attend  the  ordina- 
tion of  Mr.  Hubbard.  Dined  with  Colonel  Glover.  Called  on 
Captain  Dixey. 

Jan.  29,  Wed.  The  Academy  met  in  Boston  at  Concert 
Hall  in  the  forenoon.  I  dined  W'ith  the  Hon.  James  Bowdoin, 
Esq.''^  The  Academy  adjourned  to  his  house  in  the  afternoon. 
A  Committee  was  chosen  for  two  years,  responsible  for  some 
communication  once  a  year.  The  business  of  this  Committee 
was  divided  into  three  general  heads,  and  three  members  chosen 
to  each :  first.  Mathematics,  Geography,  and  Astronomy  ;  sec- 
ond. Natural  Philosophy,  Natural  History,  etc.,  including 
many  other  branches ;  third,  Physic.  The  gentlemen  ap- 
pointed were,  on  the  first.  President  Willard,  Prof.  Williams, 
and  Mr.  Gannet ;  on  the  second,  Theophilus  Parsons,  Esq., 
General  Lincoln,  and  M.  Cutler ;  on  the  third.  Dr.  Holyoke, 


*JaTnes  Bowdoin,  a  Giwenior  of  Massachusetts,  was  born  at  Boston 
in  1727;  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  174");  in  1 774  was  elected 
a  delegate  to  the  first  Congress;  in  J778  he  was  chosen  President  of 
the  Convention  which  formed  the  Constitution  of  INIassacliusetts,  and 
in  17S5  was  appointed  Governor  of  that  State.  He  was  the  first  Pi'esi- 
dent  of  the  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  established  at  Boston,  in  1780, 
and  was  admitted  a  member  of  several  foreign  societies  of  distinction. 
He  died  at  Boston  in  1790. — Biogr-'phy  of  Eminent  ^fe)l,  lnj  H.  A.  Daven- 
port. 


^ 


O" 


/ 


V 


94  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Dr.  Wavren,  and  Dr.  Tufts.  I  had  the  honor  of  an  unani- 
mous vote.  This  Committee  are,  among  other  matters,  to  ex- 
amine the  communications  that  have  been  made  to  the  Acad- 
emy, and  if  they  find  materials,  prepare  for  publishing  a  vol- 
ume as  soon  as  mav  bfi. 

Mar.  17-21.  Tarred  apple-trees  to  keep  the  millers  from 
going  up. 

3Iar.  25,  Tues.  Dr.  Holyoke  set  out  with  me  to  attend 
a  meeting  of  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  American 
Academy  to  meet  at  Cambridge.  We  met  at  President  Wil- 
lard's. 

Apr.l,  Tues.  News  of  Peace  between  America  and  Great 
Britain. 

Apr!  29,  Tues.  This  day  appointed  to  celebrate  the  return 
of  Peace.  The  whole  town  being  desired  to  assemble  at  Mr. 
Frisbie's  Meeting  House  in  Ipswich,  at  10  o'clock,  and  a  com- 
mittee having  waited  on  the  several  ministers,  desiring  their 
attendance,  I  set  out  from  here  at  8  o'clock,  in  company  with 
Captain  Dodge  and  thirty  or  forty  of  the  parish,  who  waited 
on  me  for  this  purpose.  At  10  o'clock  the  people  assembled 
in  the  Meeting  House,  which  was  exceedingly  crowded. 

The  Proclamation  from  Congress  being  read,  Mr.  Cleaveland 
made  a  short  prayer,  an  anthem  was  sung,  and  an  elegant 
oration  delivered  by  Mr.  Frisbie,  after  which  an  anthem  was 
suns,  and  the  cono;reo;ation  dismissed.  Thirteen  cannon  were 
fired. 

At  2  o'clock  an  elegant,  plentiful  collation  of  cold  hams, 
bacon,  tongues,  fowls,  veal,  etc.,  was  spread  on  two  very  long 
tables,  on  the  green,  at  which  all  the  people  partook.  This 
collation  Avas  the  free  donation  of  the  people,  Avhich  every  one 
through  the  town,  who  pleased,  sent  ready  cooked.  There 
was  also  given  a  great  plenty  of  spirits  and  other  liquors. 
When  those  who  came  first  to  the  table  had  dined,  thirteen 
toasts  were  given  by  the  High  Sherifi",  and  thirteen  cannon 
were  discharged  for  several  of  the  first,  and  for  the  rest  a 
smaller  number. 

In  the  evening  very  handsome  fire-works  were  played  off — 
a  large  number  of  sky-rockets,  serpents,  crackers,  wheel- 
works,  etc.     Many  gentlemen   illuminated  their  houses,  which 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianassch  Cutler.  95 

appeared  very  beautiful,  and  the  Avhole  exercises  of  the  oc- 
casion were  performed  with  the  greatest  good  order  and  de- 
corum. Every  countenance  was  smiling,  and  no  intemperance 
was  perceived  even  among  the  lowest  class.  And  thus  this 
joyful  day  concluded,  without  the  smallest  accident,  to  uni- 
versal satisfaction,  and  much  to  the  honor  of  the  town.  There 
wa^  given,  of  the  article  of  meat,  between  twenty-one  and 
twenty-two  hundred  weight,  and  one  hundred  dollars  in  money. 
This  day  was  eight  years  and  ten  days  from  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war. 

3Iay  27,  Tues.  (Boston).  Academy  met  at  the  Court-house. 
Dined  with  Hon.  Mr.  Bowdoin.  Afternoon  the  Academy  met, 
for  the  first  time,  at  the  new  hall  in  the  Manufacturing  House, 
wdiich  is  assigned  by  the  General  Court  for  the  use  of  the 
American  Academy  and  Medical  Society. 

31(1)/  28,  Wed.  General  election,  but  no  public  entertain- 
ment.    Mr.  Cummings,  of  Billerica,  preached. 

June  4,  Wed.  Attended  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the 
Philosophical  Library,  at  Salem. 

June  9-28.     Botanizing  and  attending  to  my  boys. 

June  30,  3Io7i.  Mr.  Forbes,  Mr.  Fuller,  and  I  rode  round 
Cape  Ann  and  examined  many  fossils. 

Juli/  1,  Tues.  Rode  down  to  Squam  and  found  some  very 
curious  fossils. 

Jidy  16,  Wed.  (at  Cambridge).  Commencement.  Nothing 
very  extraordinary. 

July  18,  Fri.     Kendall  and  Mason  examined. 

[The  remainder  of  July  was  spent  in  botanical  Avalks  in 
Bradford  and  Haverhill,  along  the  Merrimack  River.  No 
farther  record  of  1783  is  found.] 

Ja7i.  21,  1781.  This  evening  a  comet  was  seen,  but  I  did 
not  see  it. 

Jan.  25,  Lord's  Day.     Preached.     This  evening   I  saw  the  / 

comet,  and  viewed  it  with  the  telescope.     Measured  the  length 
of  its  tail  and  distance  from  several  stars. 

Jan.  28,  Wed.  Mr.  Pavson  rode  with  me  to  Boston  to  at- 
tend  the  meeting  of  the  Academy.     At  Mr.  Bowdoin's  in  the 


V 


96  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

forenoon.  The  Committee  for  Printing  met  at  nio-ht  at  jMr. 
Guild's  lodgings  and  adjourned  to  the  next  morning. 

Jan.  29,  Thurs.  We  prepared  a  subscription  paper  for 
printing  a  Volume  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Academy,  and 
advertisements  for  the  papers,  and  put  them  into  the  hands  of 
the  printers. 

Feb.  10,  Tues.  Busy  in  sending  abroad  subscription  pa- 
pers. 

Feh.  18,  Wed.     Sent  off  a  package  of  subscription  papers. 

Mar.  30,  Tues.  Went  to  Cambridge  in  company  with  Dr. 
Orne,  and  met  the  Committees  at  President  Willard's.  Dined 
with  the  President. 

3Iar.  31,  Wed.  Committees  sit.  Dined  with  Mr.  Gannet. 
Went  to  Boston  in  the  evening. 

Apr.  1,  Thurs.  Meeting  of  the  Academy.  Dined  at  Mr. 
Bowdoin's.     Met  in  the  evening  on  the  business  of  printing. 

Apr.  2,  Fri.  Colonel  Baldwin,  ^Ir.  Guild,  and  I  went  to 
the  printers  and  engravers,  and  contracted  with  them  for 
printing  a  Volume  of  the  Transactions. 

Apr.  4,  Lord's  Day.  Mr.  Little,  of  Wells,  here,  and 
preached  for  me. 

Apr.  29,  Tlturs.  At  a  fast,  Upper  Parish,  Beverly,  on  ac- 
count of  settling  a  minister.  I  began  with  prayer,  and  Mr. 
Wadsworth  preached.  In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Holt  began  with 
prayer,  and  Mr.  Swain  preached. 

May  25,  Tues.  Mr.  Payson  and  I  went  to  Boston.  At- 
tended tlie  meeting  of  the  Academy. 

[The  remainder  of  the  Daily  Journal  is  lost,  but  in  a 
small  book  is  found  Dr.  Cutler's  Journey  to  White  Hills, 
1784] : 

3Ionday,,JulyV3.  Set  out  from  Ipswich  for  the  White  Hills 
in  company  with  Dr.  Fisher,*  Mr.  Heard,  Mr.  Hubbard,  and 
Mr.  Bartlett.  Rain  in  the  morning,  foggy,  and  showers  through 
the  day.  Arrived  at  Newbury  Port  at  six,  passed  the  ferry, 
and  lodged  at  Captain  Wells',  at  Hampton  Falls. 

.Tues.,  July  20.     Rode   to  Exeter  and   breakfasted.     Trav- 


*Dr.   Fisher,  of  Beverly,  President  of  the    Massachusetts  Medical 
Society. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  97 

eled  down  on  the  north  of  the  river,  thro'  New  Market,  Lamper 
Eel,  Durham,  Dover,  and  dined  at  Mr.  Belknap's.  Mr.  Little 
and  Mr.  Belknap  *  joined  us.  Went  on,  passed  thro'  part  of 
Summersworth,  wdiich  lay  mostly  to  the  eastward,  arrived  at 
Mr.  Haven's,  at  Rochester,  where  we  lodged.  Plere  the  ther- 
mometers, at  seven  in  the  evening,  stood  as  follows  :  Out-doors, 
in  the  shade,  78° ;  in-doors,  82°. 

At  this  house  we  have  a  very  extensive  prospect  in  every 
direction  ;  Ave  calculate  its  extent  at  90  miles.  At  half  after 
9  h.,  the  thermometer,  out-doors,  73°;  in-doors,  79°.  Wind 
S,  E. — half  after  4,  morn.,  out-doors,  Qid°;  in-doors,  77°. 

Wed.,  July  21.  Pursued  our  journey.  Mr.  Wingate 
joined  us — a  Avorthy  man,  from  Rochester.  We  also  hired  a 
guide,  Mr.  Place,  for  four  dollars,  to  carry  us  to  the  White 
Mountains.  From  Mr.  Haven's  Ave  traveled  fifteen  miles  in 
Rochester — plain,  pine  land,  thin  soil,  houses  low  and  poor. 
Made  a  stage  at  Joseph  Plummer's,  came  to  Wakefield,  and 
dined  at  Captain  David  Copp's.  This  town  appears  to  be  fine 
land,  tho'  but  little  cultivated. 

In  Rochester  Ave  rode  some  Avays  by  Cochecho  River, 
Avhich  empties  at  Dover,  and  by  Sain) on  Falls  River  and  Three 
Ponds,  before  we  arrived  at  Wakefield.  '  We  also  passed  the 
Three  Giants,  Avliich  are  three  steep  cobble  hills.  In  Wake- 
field are  fine  fields  of  rye,  peas,  and  Indian  corn  planted  on 
ncAv  ground,  groAvs  large  and  bears  good  crops  without  being 
hoed.  The  groAvth  in  Wakefield — red  oak,  beech,  maple,  pine, 
and  hemlock,  and  a  great  plenty  of  the  Imperial   raspberry. 


*  Rev.  Daniel  Little,  of  Wells,  Maine,  and  Rev.  Jeremy  Belknaji, 
D.  D.,  Pastor  of  the  Cliurch  at  Dover,  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
preached  for  twenty  years.  Dr.  Belknap  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
in  17G4.  In  1787  he  was  called  to  the  pastomte  of  the  church  in  Long 
Lane,  Boston.  He  was  a  member  of  the  American  Academy. of  Arts 
and  Sciences  and  the  founder  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 
He  was  the  author  of  a  liistory  of  New  Hampshire  and  of  two  volumes 
of  American  Biography,  and  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  Columbian 
Magozine.  His  correspondence  with  Ebenezer  Hazard,  from  1779  to 
1798,  was  published  by  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  in  1877. 
In  it  is  Dr.  Belknap's  journal  of  this  tour  to  the  White  Mountains.  He 
died  in  1798. 

7 


98  Life  of  Rev.  Uanasseh  Cutler. 

Here  we  had  a  fine  view  of  the  Moose  Mountain  height.  It  is 
well  wooded,  mostly  oak,  and  in  form  nearly  oval.  The  coun- 
try to  the  north  very  mountainous,  and  its  appearance  has  a 
most  noble  effect.  We  have  now  a  view  of  Ossipee  Mountain. 
This  stage  is  twenty-two  miles  from  Dover.  In  our  Avay  from 
hence  to  New  Garden,  we  passed  over  a  branch  of  Pine  River, 
which  is  a  branch  of  the  Great  Ossipee,  where  we  saw  a 
beaver-dam.  It  was  old  and  the  sticks  so  nearly  rotten  we 
could  not  see  them.  It  appeared  like  a  mill-dam  with  some 
quantity  of  earth  thrown  up.  Our  road  bad,  the  surface  ex- 
ceedingly uneven,  in  some  places  very  rocky,  with  sharp  hills. 
The  growth  in  some  parts,  red  oak,  in  others,  pine.  For  sev- 
eral miles  the  Norway  pines  are  amazing  tall  and  straight ; 
also  beech  and  birch.  There  are  few  settlements,  mostly  indif- 
ferent, but  a  most  enchanting  prospect  thirteen  miles  from  here. 

At  seven  o'clock  we  arrived  at  Captain  Brown's,  in  New 
Garden,  ten  miles  from  our  last  stage.  At  half  after  seven 
o'clock  the  thermometer  stood,  out-doors,  66°;  in-doors,  71°. 
Thermometer  at  9  o'clock  stood,  out-doors,  65°;  in-doors,  70°. 
Wind  S.  E.;  weather  fair. 

Thurs.^  July  22.  This  morning  thermometer,  at  4J  o'clock, 
out-doors,  63°;  in-doors,  G6°.  Mr.  Brown,  in  four  years,  has 
built  a  house  and  barn,  and  cleared  ninety  acres  of  land. 
Growth,  beech,  maple,  and  pine ;  soil,  light  and  sandy.  From 
Brown's  to  Ossipee  Pond  is  seven  and  a  half  miles ;  the  first 
growth,  very  tall  pines  and  birches ;  passed  Pine  River,  a 
branch  of  the  Great  Ossipee.  At  Ossipee  Pond  Ave  made  a 
stage,  having  passed  thro'  several  miles  of  pitch  and  Norway, 
yellow-pine  plains.  No  house,  but  an  oat-trough  at  the  foot 
of  the  bridge  over  Ossipee  River,  just  below  where  it  runs  out 
of  the  pond.  Here  we  caught  a  number  of  fish  called  whit- 
tens  ;  we  had  no  other  bait  than  whortleberries  and  blue-ber- 
ries, at  Avhich  they  very  readily  bit.  Saw  many  large  barbel  or 
suckers.  The  river  is  large  and  the  bridge  very  long.  In 
this  river  we  saw  a  very  large  snake  swimming,  which  we  sup- 
posed was  either  a  black  snake  or  a  water  adder.  We  had 
killed  one  pigeon  in  the  woods,  and  killed  another  at  the  pond. 
A  number  of  us  bathed  in  the  pond,  which  is  large,  nearly 
round,  and  five  miles  across.     It  is  shoal  on  the  side  we  were 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  99 

on,  which  was  the  southern.  The  shore  much  resembled  the 
beach  on  the  sea-shore  for  many  miles.  We  had  here  a  grand 
view  of  ranges  of  mountains,  N.  W.,  N.,  N.  E.,  and  E.,  arising 
one  above  another.  Whiteface  was  in  plain  sight ;  on  the  other 
points  were  tall  woods.  At  this  pond  we  gave  our  horses  oats, 
and  refreshed  ourselves  with  rum  and  water. 

From  hence  we  rode  five  miles  over  pitch  and  Norway-pine 
plains,  with  very  low  shrubs,  sweet  fern,  and  brakes  ;  very  hot 
and  tedious.  We  came  now  to  a  number  of  miserable  huts,  on 
very  poor,  rocky,  rough  land,  constantly  uphill  and  down.  In 
Eaton,  at  six  and  a  half  miles  from  the  pond,  we  made  a 
stage  at  a  low,  poor,  log  house,  with  stones  roughly  thrown  to- 
gether for  a  chimney.  They  had  nothing  to  supply  us  with 
but  bread.  We  cooked  our  fish  and  pigeons,  and  with  pork 
and  bacon  fried  up  in  one  mess,  we  made  a  most  sumptuous 
dinner.  This  is  a  most  wretched  place  indeed ;  the  heat  ex- 
treme, but  did  not  take  out  our  thermometer.  From  hence 
we  rode  thro'  the  same  kind  of  barren  plains  six  miles,  when 
we  entered  Conway,  in  Pigwocket,  and  were  most  agreeably 
entertained  with  a  total  change  of  soil,  from  miserably  barren 
plains  to  the  finest  intervale  I  ever  saw,  with  a  number  of  very 
well  built  houses  and  fine  farms.  Stopped  by  showers  of  rain 
at  Mr.  Abbot's,  just  at  the  entrance  of  PigAvocket.  In  the  re- 
mainder of  our  way  to  Colonel  McMullen's,  three  miles 
farther  and  nine  from  our  stage  in  Eaton,  in  our  last  three 
miles  we  were  highly  delighted  with  the  forming,  rising,  and 
descending  of  clouds  below  the  adjacent  mountains.  It  is 
common  here  for  clouds  to  appear  on  a  horizontal  level  from 
where  you  stand,  wholly  concealing  from  the  sight  mountains 
at  a  small  distance,  and  it  will  frequently  rain  hard  on  the  in- 
tervale when  the  sun  shines  on  the  mountains  just  by.  These 
scenes  have  a  most  agreeable  effect. 

At  six  o'clock  we  arrived  at  Colonel  McMullen's,  at  Con- 
way, after  riding  twenty-five  miles  from  Brown's.  A  fine 
house,  and  grand  provisions — cucumbers,  peas,  lamb,  etc. 
Two  miles  back,  on  the  borders  of  the  intervale,  Ave  were  in- 
formed Avhere  there  Avere  once  two  Indian  forts.  Here  we 
met  Avith  Mr.  Whipple,  who  joins  us  with  his  servant. 

The  day  has  been  fair  until  five  o'clock,  then  shoAvers ;  at 


100  Life  of  Bev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

sunset  it  rained  very  hard.     Air  much  cooler.     Thermometer 
at  nine  o'clock,  in-doors,  74^. 

Friday/,  July  23.  This  morning  fair.  At  half  past  five,  ther- 
mometer, in-doors,  at  69°.  Here  Ave  procured  another  guide, 
■who  acted  likewise  as  an  ax-man — Captain  Evans — and  endeav- 
ored to  hire  another,  but  were  unable  to  do  it.  At  a  quarter 
after  8  Ave  set  out  from  Colonel  McMullen's  for  the  White  Moun- 
tains, our  course  northerly,  and  the  road  pretty  good  for  four 
or  five  miles  ;  a  few  small  huts,  then  bad  road  to  Copp's,  eight 
miles  from  Colonel  McMullen's.  This  is  the  last  house. 
Baited  our  horses  for  half  an  hour,  and  then  set  out  for  the 
White  Mountains  at  17  minutes  after  11  o'clock,  our  course 
by  Ellis  River,  a  branch  of  Saco  ;  the  road  so  filled  up  with 
windfalls  that  we  were  obliged  to  travel  in  a  thick  hemlock, 
spruce,  beech,  and  birch  wood  the  most  of  the  way  until  we 
crossed  the  river  about  three  miles  up,  the  road  still  bad,  until 
we  arrived  at  the  eastern  notch  of  the  White  Mountains,  near 
a  swamp,  or  beaver  meadow,  in  which  Ellis  River  takes  its 
rise  and  runs  south.  From  the  northern  end  the  stream  runs 
the  other  w^ay,  dividing  in  a  small  body  of  still  water  in  the 
meadow.  The  stream  N.  runs  into  Peabody  River,  or  may  be 
properly  the  rise  of  it,  as  the  east  end  is  of  Ellis.  At  both 
ends  are  beaver  dams. 

About  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  our  camp  NeAV  River 
descends  from  the  foot  of  the  mountain  into  Ellis  River.  This 
river  is  supposed  to  have  broken  out  about  the  21st  of  Octo- 
ber, 1775,  as  there  was  about  that  time  successive  rains  for 
several  days,  and  on  that  day  a  very  uncommon  freshet  in  the 
rivers  adjacent.  Mr.  Whipple  informs  us  that  on  that  day 
the  freshet  in  the  river  in  his  plantation  Avas  so  sudden  that 
cattle  on  his  intervale  Avere  in  danger  of  being  droAvned,  and 
he  sent  a  servant  only  sixty  or  seventy  rods  to  bring  them  off, 
but  the  bridge  over  the  river  Avhich  he  passed  Avas  carried 
away  before  he  had  time  to  return.  Colonel  McMullen  says 
that  Ellis  River  Avas  higher  at  his  house  than  ever  knoAvn,  ex- 
cept once  before,  and  the  Avater  ran  muddy  for  some  weeks. 
Soon  after  this  freshet  the  river  Avas  discovered,  and  Avas  not 
there  before.  We  passed  the  river  at  its  entrance  into  Ellis 
River,  just  beloAV  a  most  beautiful  cascade,  which  Ave  judged 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  101 

mvist  be  upward  of  100  feet  perpendicular — some  thought  at 
least  150 — declivity  75°.  The  bank  was  washed  down  six  or 
eight  feet,  and  all  the  trees  were  carried  aAvay  in  the  course 
of  the  stream,  which  was  through  a  large  growth  of  wood. 
The  rocks  at  the  lower  part  of  the  cascade  were  a  very  fine 
slate,  the  laminae  of  a  proper  thickness  for  tile  ;  higher  up, 
the  rock  had  an  uncommon  appearance,  very  shiny.  Some 
had  laminae,  very  light;  others  with  circular  striae,  various 
colors.  Some  strata  of  talc,  probably  large  quantities,  some 
flint.  Above  the  cascade  the  river  has  a  moderate  descent. 
From  toward  the  mountain  above,  at  the  distance  of  seventy 
or  eighty  rods  from  the  top  of  the  cascade,  large  stones  ap- 
peared to  have  been  brought  down  by  the  water,  breaking  off  . 
large  trees  at  the  height  of  a  man's  head  ;  breaking  the  trunks 
in  short  pieces,  the  ends  of  which  were  shivered  into  small 
splinters,  and  wedged  in  among  the  rocks.  In  one  place  the 
trunks  of  large  trees  were  curiously  lodged  in  the  form  of  a 
circular  dam,  by  being  stopped  by  the  stumps,  nearly  as  high 
as  a  man's  shoulders,  and  filled  i;p  above  with  large  rocks  of 
circular  form,  some  small,  and  others  nearly  of  a  ton's  weight 
— perhaps  more.  This  pile  Avas  rounding  on  the  top  above 
the  dam,  and  nearly  horizontal  upward  toward  the  mountain. 
On  one  side  appeared  to  be  a  fine  iron  mine,  the  stream  that 
ran  from  it  of  a  deep  rusty  color,  and  the  taste  highly  im- 
pregnated with  ferruginous  particles.  Farther  up  there  ap- 
peared to  be  two  very  large  rocks,  a  little  separated,  from 
Avhence  we  supposed  the  river  rose  out  of  the  hill.  Here  we 
saw  water,  but  did  not  go  to  it.  Up  the  mountain  we  saw  a 
large  vale,  in  nearly  a  straight  line,  in  Avhich  we  saw  a  very 
small  run  of  Avater  that  descended  down  the  course  of  the 
river.  At  this  time  we  fully  determined  to  explore  the  river 
thoroughly,  and  measure  the  cascade,  etc.,  but  the  shortness 
of  our  time,  and  returning  another  way,  prevented. 

Our  ax-men  and  guides  built  us  a  very  comfortable  tent 
with  spruce  bark  for  our  lodging  this  night,  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  farther  north,  and  just  beyond  a  considerable  river  that 
runs  down  from  the  mountain.  This  tent  was  not  begun  until 
eight  in  the  evening.  We  have  been  from  11  o'clock  a.  m.  to 
8  P.  M.  in  traveling  eight  miles.     A  large  fire  was  mad&  brefore  v 


102  Lif^  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

our  tent,  and  the  bottom  covered  with  the  boughs  of  hemlock. 
Opened  my  thermometer,  and  noted  the  height.  Found  one 
of  my  barometers  broken,  and  the  mercury  lost.  The  other 
was  hung  up,  and  the  range  noted. 

We  turned  our  horses  into  the  meadow  and  baited  them, 
then  tied  them  by  the  head  all  night.  Slept  poorly,  on  ac- 
count of  my  being  very  cold.  The  night  was  exceedingly 
chilly  in  this  situation,  which  was  between  two  extremely  high 
mountains,  and  in  a  very  tall  wood,  the  ground  covered  with 
an  underwood  of  moose  bush. 

Saturday,  July  24.  This  morning  noted  barometer  and 
thermometer.  Prepared  to  go  up  the  mountain.  For  our 
march  up  the  mountain,  see  Journal.  Set  out  at  15  minutes 
after  six.  From  the  tent  the  ascent  was  in  general  pretty 
uniform.  The  growth  below  very  tall,  consisting  of  spruce, 
hemlock,  pine,  beech,  etc.,  I  suppose  more  than  100  feet.  Our 
ascent,  I  suppose,  from  25°  to  45°,  varying  in  places  from  one 
to  the  other. 

We  ascended  on  the  north  side  of  a  considerable  river  * 
which  run  down  from  the  mountain,  but  crossed  it  to  the  south- 
ward some  ways  below  the  clear.  The  stones  in  this  river 
were  curious,  containing  talc,  starry  appearances,  and  many 
very  light,  but  we  had  not  time  to  examine  them  critically. 
We  ascended  the  mountain,  after  we  had  crossed  the  river,  until 
the  growth,  which  gradually  diminishes,  became  low  shrubs  of 
spruce  and  hemlock,  having  passed  through  growths  of  differ- 
ent kinds  of  wood  on  our  way.  In  passing  through  these 
shrubs,  which  were  from  ten  to  two  feet  high,  we  were  greatly 
fatigued;  sometimes  crawling  under  them,  at  others  we 
mounted  on  to  their  tops,  and  were  frequently  supported  by 
them  for  a  few  steps,  until  we  plunged  through  them.  Our 
guides  often  wished  for  their  snow-shoes,  with  which  they 
imagined,  and  I  thought  with  good  reason,  that  they  could 
walk  very  well  on  their  tops.  But  this  kind  of  walking  did  not 
extend  above  sixty  or  seventy  rods  before  we  came  into  the 
clear,  as  it  is  called,  which  is  above   the  trees,  and  I  judged 


*  "  This  stream  we  called  Cutler  s  invert     Belknap  Hazard  Letters,  vol. 
1,  p.  105,  note. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manassah  Cutler.  103 

about  two  thirds  of  our  way  up  the  mountain.  Wc  arrived 
here  chirty-two  minutes  after  ten. 

The  mountain  above  the  shrubs  has  the  appearance  of  a 
close-fed  pasture,  with  many  detached  rocks  rising  above  the 
surface.  As  we  advanced  we  found  it  to  be  a  mere  mass  of 
rocks,  covered  Avith  a  mat  of  long  moss,  their  crevices  and  be- 
tween them  filled  up  with  various  kinds  of  vegetables,  most 
of  them  such  as  we  had  never  before  seen.  Here  Ave  found  a 
very  short  kind  of  vine,  which  bore  a  fruit  somewhat  resem- 
bling the  cranberry,  which  Avas  nearly  quite  ripe.  The  berries 
that  were  ripe  were  black,  but  some  of  them  were  still  green ; 
their  taste  very  disagreeable.  There  were  some  other  ber- 
ries on  stems  about  two  or  three  inches  high,  and  several 
vegetables  in  bloom.  There  were  large  beds  of  what  is  called 
the  Labrador  tea,  of  a  very  aromatic  taste  and  smell.  We 
found  near  springs  of  water  a  vegetable  nearly  resembling  the 
narcissus  in  the  bloom,  but  the  leaves  Avere  oblong ;  the  smell 
agreeable.  Among  the  rocks  were  spruces  about  three  or  four 
inches  high,  Avhich  had  been  perhaps  groAving  several  thousand 
years  to  obtain  this  height ;  the  Avinds  and  snows  have  kept 
their  tops  even  Avith  the  surface  of  the  rocks,  Avhich  made 
them  appear  as  though  they  had  been  moAved  ;  and  they  Avere 
sufficiently  firm  to  support  us  as  Ave  Avalked  upon  them.  Near 
the  border  of  the  shrubs  the  declivity  of  the  mountain  is  not 
so  steep  as  below,  Avhich  Ave  called  a  plain,  though  here  the 
ascent  may  be  fifteen  or  tAventy  degress.  Our  ascent,  after 
Ave  pass  over  this  plain,  Avas  not  less  than  forty-five  or  fifty 
degrees  until  Ave  reach  the  first  summit.  In  many  places  the 
rocks  are  bare  for  a  considerable  distance,  in  the  course  Ave 
ascended,  for  several  feet  in  Avidth  ;  and  we  greatly  facilitated 
our  ascent  by  climbing  up  these  rocks,  Avhich  are  large  and 
detached  like  the  others.  These  long  strips  of  bare  rocks,  I 
presume,  gave  rise  to  the  notion  of  staircases  ;  but  they  are 
Avithout  the  least  appearance  of  regularity,  and  Avere  evidently 
Avashed  bare  by  the  descent  of  large  torrents  of  Avater  occas- 
ioned by  the  dissolving  of  the  snoAV. 

While  Ave  Avere  ascending  this  part  of  the  mountain,  a  ncAV 
and  curious  scene  opened  to  our  vicAV.  Clouds  Avere  forming, 
moving,  and  dissipating  by  turns,  in  every  direction.     For  the 


104  Life  of  Bev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

most  of  the  time  we  bad  clear  sunshine,  but  -were  repeatedly 
involved  in  clouds  rolling  on  the  sides  of  the  mountains.  The 
Avhole  process  of  cloud-making  Avas  apparent,  and  struck  us 
with  an  agreeable  surprise.  Large  columns  rise  (from  below 
and  ascending  on  each  hand  of  us  in  the  deep  channels  that 
are  made  in  the  mountain,  probably  by  the  descent  of  water) 
until  they  reach  a  colder  and  rarer  region  of  the  air,  when 
they  spread  horizontally  and  descend  to  the  regions  below. 

Toward  the  neighboring  mountains  they  appeared  in  a  dif- 
ferent form.  As  the  clouds  accumulated  vapor  from  the  val- 
leys beneath,  condensing  in  one  part,  dissipating  in  another  ; 
some  columns  rising,  others  falling,  others  moving  in  various 
directions.  Thus  the  region  of  atmosphere,  for  many  thous- 
and feet,  occupied  by  these  vapors,  appeared  in  the  most  de- 
lightful confusion,  all  in  motion,  and  in  every  direction  at  the 
same  instant.  When  we  were  near  the  summit  we  Avere  highly 
amused  with  large  and  dense  clouds  moving  alonsr  the  moun- 
tain,  perhaps  a  thousand  feet  below  us.  Over  our  heads  there 
was  a  very  rare  haze,  through  which  the  sun  shone  very  clear 
— it  appeared  high.  AVe  arrived  at  the  summit  32  minutes 
after  11  o'clock. 

As  we  ascended  the  first  summit,  we  had  certainlv  one  of 
the  most  extensive  prospects  that  any  part  of  New  England 
exhibits.  This  most  mountainous  part  of  the  country  appeared 
sunk  into  a  plain  as  far  as  the  sight  of  the  eye  could  reach, 
interspersed  with  inconsiderable  moles  to  vary  the  prospect. 
It  suggested  immediately  the  idea  of  viewing  an  extensive 
marsh  from  an  eminence  far  above  it,  Avith  numerous  stacks 
and  cocks  of  hay  settled  down  and  extending  over  a  broad 
base.  Though  the  day  Avas  unfavorable  for  a  distant  prospect, 
yet  I  saAV  the  sea  very  plainly,  south-east  and  south,  for  a  con- 
siderable distance.  At  the  summit  Ave  had  an  extensive  view 
N.  E.,  N.,  and  N.  W.  In  these  directions  the  plain  was  not 
so  level,  several  mountains  towered  their  heads,  and  seemed 
to  vie  with  those  Ave  Avere  ascending,  but  still  Avere  far  beloAV 
them,  and  our  field  of  view  exceedinrrlv  extensive.  The  scene 
to  the  Avest  and  south-Avest  Avas  somcAvhat  similar.  The  im- 
mense plain  Avhich  the  eye  noAv  commanded  Avas  of  a  beautiful 
verdure,  variegated  Avith  diiferent  shades  of  green  from  the 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  105 

different  trees  that  overspread  it,  and   still  diversified  with  a 
few  scattered  plantations. 

When  we  had  reached  the  first  summit,  we  had  arrived 
above  the  limits  of  vegetation.  This  summit  was  an  irregular 
pile  of  detached  rocks  of  a  dark  gray  appearance,  and  seemed 
to  be  composed  of  talcs,  flint,  and  a  hard  grayish  stone.  It 
is  not  very  high,  nor  did  I  think  at  the  time  to  form  any  judg- 
ment of  its  height.  Think  it  could  not  exceed  100  or  150 
feet.  West  and  north-west  of  this  summit  is  an  extensive 
plain,  with  an  easy  declivity  to  the  north-west.  It  appears  as 
smooth  as  a  grass-plot,  and  may  be  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
in  extent,  though  our  party  varied  very  much,  afterwards,  in 
our  opinion  of  its  dimensions.  It  was  spread  over  with  much 
the  same  kind  of  vegetation  we  had  seen  below  the  summit. 
In  the  south-west  part  of  this  plain  the  Sugar-loaf,  as  it  is 
called,  is  situated.  This  also  is  an  immense  pile  of  large  de- 
tached rocks  of  the  same  kind  with  the  pinnacle  ;  the  ascent 
not  so  steep  as  in  some  other  parts  of  the  mountain  we  had 
ascended.  At  the  foot  of  it  vegetation  ceases.  We  were  an 
hour  and  twenty-one  minutes  walking  from  the  first  summit  to 
the  pinnacle  of  the  Sugar-loaf,  and  had  the  best  walking  of 
any  part  of  our  journey  from  the  bottom  of  the  mountain. 
We  arrived  at  this  pinnacle  six  minutes  after  one, 

Soon  after  we  arrived,  and  before  we  had  time  to  make  any 
of  those  observations  and  measurements  respecting  distant 
objects,  for  Avhich  purpose  we  had  been  at  the  pains  of  carry- 
ing proper  instruments  to  this  height  in  the  atmosphere,  we 
had  the  mortification  to  be  involved  in  a  dense  cloud.  With 
hope,  however,  that  it  would  soon  pass  over,  as  other  clouds 
had  done  during  our  ascent,  we  attended  immediately  to  our 
barometer  and  thermometer.  On  the  northern  side  of  one  of 
the  highest  rocks  we  found  a  very  convenient  place  for  sus- 
pending them  at  the  ends  of  two  walking-sticks,  which  we  put 
over  the  rock  and  confined  them  by  laying  on  large  stones. 
The  thermometer  I  chose  to  carry  up  myself,  for  fear  of  acci- 
dent. Before  I  set  out  from  our  tent,  I  shifted  my  dress, 
apprehending  it  would  be  cold.  I  put  on  a  winter  baize 
jacket  with  sleeves,  a  thick  broadcloth  jacket,  and  then  lashed 
my  greatcoat  about  me  with  a  belt.     The  thermometer  was  in 


106  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

a  glass  tube,  wliicli  was  placed  in  a  shagreen  case.  This  case 
I  put  within  the  folding  of  my  greatcoat  for  the  convenience 
of  carrying  it,  but  the  fatigue  of  ascending  the  mountain  had 
produced  so  profuse  a  sweat  that  the  back  part  of  my  great- 
coat was  Avet  through,  and  the  mercury  in  the  thermometer? 
when  I  first  took  it  out  of  the  case,  ranged  120-128°  above  fever 
heat.  Suspending  it  in  the  air,  it  ranged  at  2  o'clock  at  56°, 
at  half  after  2  o'clock  at  52°,  and  at  3  at  44°.  The  mercury 
in  the  barometer  ranged  at  21.80  inches,  and  remained  much 
at  the  same  height  during  our  stay,  not  making  any  sensible 
variation. 

When  I  had  taken  off  the  piece  of  wood  that  defended  the 
tube,  and  the  thick  piece  which  covered  the  reservoir,  I  per- 
ceived some  particles  of  mercury  had  exuded  through  the 
leather  of  the  reservoir,  and  upon  screwing  down  the  plate  of 
brass  beneath,  I  perceived  some  air  bubbles  in  the  tube,  neither 
of  which  was  observed  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  I  im- 
puted this  to  the  repeated  blows  the  barometer  had  against 
trees  and  rocks  in  the  ascent,  notwithstanding  all  possible  care 
in  the  man  who  carried  it.  When  I  opened  it  I  was  surprised 
to  find  the  tube  was  not  broken,  though  I  had  taken  great 
pains  to  secure  it  in  the  best  manner  I  was  able.  In  return- 
ing it  was  further  injured,  and  some  quantity  of  the  quick- 
silver lost,  so  that  I  could  make  no  farther  use  of-  it,  and  was 
prevented  trying  it  at  the  bottom  again.  I  therefore  make 
deduction  for  the  loss  of  mercury  and  for  air  bubbles,  which  I 
measured  the  defect  of  at  the  top,  and  place  the  range  at  22.60, 
Avhich  will  give  9,000  feet  for  the  height  of  the  mountain.  The 
Sugar-loaf  I  suppose  to  be  about  400  or  500  feet  above  the 
plain. 

We  dined  at  2  o'clock,  on  the  pinnacle  of  the  Sugar-loaf,  on 
partridges  and  neat's  tongue.  We  found  on  the  highest  rock 
an  old  hat,  which  was  left  there  in  June,  1774.  One  of  our 
guides  was  of  the  party  that  left  it. 

The  cloud  that  involved  us,  instead  of  dissipating  or  pass- 
ing off  as  we  hoped,  increased  in  density  until  an  object  could 
be  seen  but  a  very  small  distance,  and  was  so  dark  as  to  ap- 
pear like  the  near  approach  of  night  in  a  cloudy  da,j.  Our 
party  employed   themselves  in  engraving  the  first  letters  of 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  107 

their  names  on  the  rocks.  A  sheet  of  lead,  Avith  our  names 
upon  it,  and  the  day  of  the  month  and  year,  was  laid  on  one 
of  the  highest  rocks,  and  secured  by  laying  another  rock  upon 
it.  This  we  left  with  the  hat  we  found,  as  marks  by  which 
after  visitors  might  know  we  had  been  before  them. 

We  had  not  been  long  on  the  summit  of  the  Sugar-loaf 
before  we  were  greatly  affected  with  cold.  It  was  not  a  sharp, 
but  most  severe,  chilly  cold.  Before  three,  my  teeth  chat- 
tered most  violently  in  my  head,  and  I  felt  a  universal  rigor, 
which  so  affected  my  arms  and  hands  that,  when  I  repacked 
my  thermometer  and  barometer,  I  had  almost  lost  the  use  of 
my  fingers.  This  occasioned  the  thermometer's  being  more 
slightly  secured  than  when  it  was  packed  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  and  in  returning  it  was  so  disastered  as  to  lose  al- 
most all  the  mercury,  so  that  no  farther  observations  could 
be  made  with  it.  The  wind  was  all  the  time  S.  W.,  and  a  fresh 
breeze. 

At  3  o'clock  we  were  prepared  to  descend  the  mountain. 
The  cloud  was  then  exceeding  dense,  but  Ave  perceived  very 
little  moisture.  Our  guides  then  informed  us  that,  tho'  they 
had  frequently  observed  the  course  of  our  ascent  by  their 
compasses,  yet,  having  made  so  much  of  a  circuitous  march 
from  the  first  summit  over  the  plain,  in  order  to  gain  an  easier 
ascent  of  the  Sugar-loaf,  they  were  wholly  at  a  loss  what  point 
to  steer,  and  said  they  could  not  undertake  to  lead  us  down, 
and  declined  the  attempt.  This  threw  us  for  a  time  into  a 
very  disagreeable  dilemma.  We  insisted  they  should  make 
the  attempt,  for  the  cold  Avas  now  so  intense  that  we  were  ex- 
ceedingly anxious  to  descend  into  warmer  regions.  This 
brought  on  some  altercation  between  them  as  to  Avhat  point 
of  compass  would  admit  of  the  most  easy  descent,  and  (as  is 
common  among  those  people)  each  was  tenacious  of  his  own 
opinion,  and  each  insisted  that  the  other  should  take  the  lead. 
We  were  at  length  obliged  to  interpose  and  insist  that  they 
should  endeavor  to  lead  us  into  our  old  track,  as  near  as  pos- 
sible, to  the  first  summit. 

This  was  finally  agreed  on,  and  we  began  our  descent  Avith 
the  greatest  speed,  as  the  time  Avas  now  far  elapsed,  and  we 
wished  to  recover  a  comfortable  degree  of  Avarmth.     Our  de- 


108  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

scent  of  the  Sugar-loaf  was  much  steeper  than  our  ascent. 
After  ti-aveling  about  an  hour,  we  came  to  a  more  gentle  de- 
clivity, where  we  refreshed  ourselves  at  a  most  excellent 
spring.  Before  we  came  to  this  spring  the  moisture  in  the 
cloud  was  very  sensible,  much  like  a  thick  mist.  We  traveled 
but  a  little  way  on  this  more  moderate  decline  before  we 
came  to  a  very  steep  precipice.  Our  prospect  was  so  bounded 
by  the  density  of  the  cloud  that  we  could  see  but  a  few  feet, 
distinctly,  before  us,  and  therefore  apprehended  no  great  dan- 
ger in  attempting  to  descend  it,  which  indeed  appeared  abso- 
lutely necessary,  as  we  could  see  no  way  to  avoid  it.  We 
found  a  small  gully,  in  which  we  made  our  way  down.  As- 
sisted by  holding  by  the  sides  with  our  hands,  and  the  rough- 
ness of  the  rocks  under  our  feet,  we  descended  a  long  way 
Avithout  being  able  to  see  but  a  few  feet  before  or  behind  us. 
This  indeed  was  our  security,  for  we  never  could  have  trav- 
eled  where  we  did,  if  we  could  have  had  a  view  of  our  situa- 
tion ;  but  the  novelty  of  traveling  in  the  clouds,  and  the  hope 
that  we  should  not  be  totally  lost  in  them,  kept  our  minds 
cheerful  until  we  had  descended  at  least  1,000  feet,  some  sup- 
posed 2,000  feet,  when  the  gully  grew  wider,  more  steep,  and 
slippery.  Our  guide  began  to  suspect  we  could  not  get  down 
to  the  bottom  of  the  precipice,  and  desired  us  to  stop  while  he 
attempted  to  reconnoiter  a  little  further.  He  was  soon  out 
of  sight.  After  waiting  some  time  for  his  return  to  us,  or  to 
hear  him  call  to  us  to  advance,  we  began  to  be  anxious  about 
him.  The  gentleman  next  to  him  called  as  loud  as  he  could, 
repeatedly,  but  received  no  answer.  I  Avas  then  about  the 
middle  of  the  file  in  which  we  marched,,  but  feeling  concerned 
for  the  guide,  I  descended  down  below  the  gentleman  that  had 
walked  next  to  him,  and  called  repeatedly,  but  was  not  an- 
swered. As  far  as  I  could  see  below  was  a  most  horrid  preci- 
pice, and  it  appeared  to  me  that  no  person  could  go  any 
further  without  great  hazard  of  his  life.  We  Avere  noAv  in  a 
sad  dilemma.  Our  guide,  Ave  concluded,  Avas  either  killed, 
stunned,  or  had  received  some  kind  of  disaster  which  rendered 
him  unable  to  ansAver  us.  It  Avas  not  possible  for  us  to  go  to 
him,  and  it  Avas  doing;  great  violence  to  our  feelings  to  think 
of  leaving  him  Avithout  knoAving  any  thing  of  the  condition  he 


Life  of  Rev.  Jlanasseh  Cutler.  109 

was  in.  At  length  Mr.  Whipple  came  down  to  me  and  passed 
some  feet  below  me,  and  after  hallooing  very  loud  several 
times,  the  guide  heard  him  and  answered  so  that  Mr.  Whipple 
could  hear  him,  hut  I  could  not  hear  him  where  I  stood.  He 
told  Mr.  Whipple  he  had  slipped  and  slid  down  several  hun- 
dred feet,  but  throwing  his  ax  down  before  him,  and  holding 
with  his  hands  as  much  as  possible  by  the  rocks,  he  at  length 
stopped  gradually  and  was  not  hurt ;  that  he  was  so  far  through 
the  cloud  that  he  could  see  tolerably  well  below  him  ;  that  it 
was  not  in  his  power  to  come  to  vis,  nor  in  ours  to  come  to 
him,  without  the  greatest  hazard ;  that  he  had  only  one  bad 
precipice  to  descend,  and  that  he  would  attempt  to  go  down, 
and  meet  us  at  the  border  of  the  woods.     This — 

[Here  the  manuscript  breaks  oft'  abruptly  ;  but  from  an  ac- 
count of  the  tour,  written  by  Rev.  Daniel  Little,  of  Wells, 
one  of  the  party  who  ascended  the  mountain,  it  appears  that 
after  the  accident  to  the  guide,  by  which,  however,  he  Avas  not 
seriously  injured,  the  explorers,  finding  themselves  surrounded 
by  a  cold,  dense  fog,  as  soon  as  they  reached  "  the  first  growth 
of  wood  large  ei;ough  for  a  good  fire,  encamped  for  the  night." 
July  25.  "  We  descended  the  remaining  part  of  the  mountain 
and  arrived  at  our  encampment  betAveen  8  and  9  o'clock. 
Found  Dr.  Fisher  and  Mr.  Belknap  well  and  the  horses  safe. 
Mr.  Belknap  being  very  corpulent  and  Dr.  Fisher  in  poor 
health,  they  had  tarried  with  a  servant  in  the  camp,'"'  and  did 
not  attempt  the  ascent.  The  party  immediately  set  out  with 
Mr.  Joseph  Whipple  for  Dartmouth,  the  nearest  human  habita- 
tion, twenty-six  miles  distant ;  but  the  windfalls  and  bushes 
in  a  road  unimproved  for  seven  years  made  their  progress  ex- 
ceedingly slow,  night  came  on,  and  they  were  obliged  to  camp 
in  the  woods  till  morning.  On  the  26th,  at  11  o'clock,  they 
arrived  at  "Dartmouth,  a  town  granted  to  Mr.  Whipple,  of 
Portsmouth,  who  has  eight  settlers  and  resides  here  himself  in 
the  summer.  It  is  on  Israel's  River,  which  comes  out  of  the 
great  mountain."  The}'^  remained  there  the  next  day.  A  ser- 
mon was  delivered  by  Dr.  Belknap  to  an  audience  of  thirty- 
eight  persons,  the  first  sermon  ever  preached  there,  and  eight 
children  were  baptized.     Here  the  party,  ten  in  number,  sepa- 


110  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

rated  and  returned  to  their  homes.  This  was  the  first  scientific 
exploration  of  the  White  Mountains. 

Two  or  three  years  hxter.  Dr.  Cutler  planned  another  expe- 
dition to  these  mountains  with  Mr.  Samuel  Vaughan,  Jr.,  to 
be  made  in  the  summer  of  1787,  but  at  the  time  proposed  Dr. 
Cutler's  connection  with  the  Ohio  Company,  and  the  part  as- 
signed him  in  the  business  of  that  association,  took  liim  to 
New  York  and  indefinitely  postponed  the  trip  to  the  mountains. 

It  Avas  not  until  July,  1804,  twenty  years  after  his  first  tour, 
that,  with  several  friends,  among  whom  were  Prof.  W.  D.  Peck* 
and  Dr.  Nathaniel  Bowditch,  Dr.  Cutler  again  visited  the 
White  Mountains.  He  had  for  many  years  been  much  inter- 
ested in  botanical  investigations,  and  on  this  excursion  his  at- 
tention was  chiefly  directed  to  collecting  specimens  for  the 
elucidation  of  this  study.  In  this  he  was  aided  by  Mr.  Peck, 
also  an  ardent  botanist.  An  account  of  this  visit  in  1804  is 
here  subjoined.] 

July  23, 1804,  Monday.  Having  prepared  my  instruments, 
set  out  at  seven  in  the  morning  for  the  White  Mountains,  in 
my  chaise,  with  black  Jesse  on  horseback.  At  Mr.  Tyng's, 
Newbury  Port,  met  Mr.  Peck,  Avho  went  with  me  in  the  chaise. 
Here  Messrs.  Samuel  P.  Gardner,  John  Williams,  Timothy 
Williams,  Nath'l  Lee,  Nathl  Bowditch,  overtook  us  in  a  coach 
and  four  horses.  We  dined  at  Wells',  Hampton.  Mr,  Peck 
and  myself  lodged  at  Gage's,  in  Dover,  leaving  our  company 
at  Pisqua-Bridge. 

July  24,  Tuesday.  Started  early.  Breakfasted  at  Mr. 
Haven's,  Rochester.  Dined  at  Plummer's,  Milton,  where  we 
met  with  Mr.  Jonathan  Dodge,  of  Ossipee,  who  kept  company 
with  us  and  conducted  us  to  his  house,  where  we  were  enter- 
tained with  much  hospitality.     We  arrived  at  eleven  at  night. 

July  25,  Wednesday.  Waited  till  eleven  in  the  morning  be- 
fore the  coach  came  up.  Mr.  Dodge  went  on  with  us.  Crossed 
Ossipee  River  just  where  it  goes  out  of  the  Pond.  Botanized 
on  the  shore  of  the  Pond,  as  we  had  done  the  preceding  days, 
all  the  way  on  the  road.  Arrived  at  Perkins',  Eaton,  where 
we  all  lodged.  Road  excessively  bad.  Best  attendance  they 
could  give  us. 


*  William  Dandridge  Peck,  Pi'of.  of  Nat.  Hist,  in  Harvard  University. 


Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler.  Ill 

July  26,  Thursday.  Started  early.  Went  on  to  Abbott's, 
Conway,  where  Mr.  Dodge  left  us  and  returned.  Forded  the 
Saco  River,  and  arrived  at  Mr.  McMullen's  at  twelve.  Dined ; 
an  excellent  house.  Went  on  to  Emory's,  where  we  left  the 
chaise.  (Mr.  Peck  procured  a  horse,  and,  with  one  of  the 
guides,  went  on  to  Meservy's,  in  Adams.)  All  of  our  company 
and  most  of  our  guides  lodged  here. 

July  27,  Friday.  Placed  a  barometer  and  thermometer  in 
the  shade  abroad.  Mr.  Hollis,  the  coachman,  undertook  to 
take  the  range  every  half-hour  from  8  in  the  morning  to  4  P.  M. 
Started  at  7  with  our  guides,  Captain  Chubbuck,  McMullen 
Nute,  John  Thomson,  Burnham,  and  Mr.  Abiather  Eastman, 
who  came  on  this  morning  as  a  volunteer.  Rode  about  two  or 
three  miles  ;  found  the  road  so  obstructed  with  trees,  obliged 
to  send  our  horses  back.  Proceeded  on  foot  to  New  River 
and  the  Meadow,  in  the  east  Notch,  about  three  miles.  Took 
our  departure  for  the  top  of  the  mountain.  Ascended  about  three 
hours,  and  made  a  sort  of  a  tent,  covered  Avith  boughs  ;  kin- 
dled a  large  fire,  and  slept  very  well. 

July  28,  Saturday.  At  daylight  breakfasted,  selected  our 
instruments,  and  left  our  baggage.  After  traveling  about  two 
hours,  came  to  the  short  growth  of  Avood,  where  we  were 
obliged  to  get  on  the  tops  of  the  trees,  which  became  shorter 
and  shorter,  although  the  trunks  Avere  large  and  the  tops 
spreading,  having  been  pressed  doAvn  Avith  an  almost  perpetual 
body  of  snoAv.  With  extreme  fatigue  and  diligence,  Ave  got 
above  them  at  9  o'clock.  The  mountain  above  us  then  ap- 
peared like  a  close-fed  pasture,  and  very  steep  for  a  long  dis- 
tance. One  of  the  guides  failed,  and  Avas  attacked  Avith  the 
cramp.  We  left  him,  and  began  our  ascent,  but,  after  trav- 
eling some  way  up  the  mountain,  Messrs.  Gardner,  Lee,  and 
Bowditch  were  so  overcome  with  fatigue  as  to  turn  back  with 
one  of  their  guides,  Burnham,  and  returned  to  the  tent.  We 
proceeded,  and  after  gaining  the  summit  of  this  very  steep 
part  of  the  mountain,  Avhich  I  judged  Avas  elevated  60°  from 
a  horizontal  line  and  about  1,200  feet  elevation,  Ave  came  to  a 
plain.  Here  Ave  had  a  view  of  about  nine  ascending  summits, 
which  rose  to  different  heights  from  broad  rocky  bases,  and 
seemed  very  much  to  limit  the  vegetation  of  mosses,  grasses, 
and  loAV  shrubs,  which  below  were  growing  between  and  in  the 


112  Life  of  Rev.  Manassah  Cutler. 

crevices  of  the  rocks,  so  far  as  to  make  an  even  surface  with 
them.  But  from  the  base  of  these  pinnacles  to  their  summits, 
consisting  of  detached  rocks,  there  Avas  sprinkled  over  them 
a  species  'of  moss,  not  much  larger,  nor  rising  higher,  than  a 
large  pin's  head.  They  gave  the  rocks  a  spotted  appearance 
of  different  colors,  whitish,  reddish,  brownish,  and  rusty.  The 
rocks  of  the  mountain  arc  mostly  granite,  mixed  with  some 
quartz,  mica,  and  a  silicious  stone  of  a  dark  brownish  color. 
After  passing  two  of  these  pinnacles  south-westerly,  we  as- 
cended on  the  south  side  of  a  third,  where  we  took  the  al- 
titude of  the  sun  at  12  ;  it  was  67°  24'.  The  elevation  con- 
tinues to  the  foot  of  the  fourth,  which  is  the  highest  part  of 
the  mountain.  We  arrived  at  half  past  twelve.  On  taking 
my  thermometer  from  my  bosom,  within  my  flannel  waistcoat, 
and  giving  it  to  Mr.  Peck,  he  and  John  Williams  declared  that 
the  mercury,  Avhen  the}^  opened  the  lid,  filled  the  tube,  which 
was  graduated  to  140°.  Being  engaged  with  preparing  the 
barometer,  I  did  not  see  it  myself  until  it  had  fallen.  The 
barometer  was  a  tube  in  which  the  mercury  had  been  boiled 
to  exclude  the  air,  and  then  hermetically  sealed.  On  remov- 
ing the  seal  and  cork,  it  required  about  an  inch  of  mercury  to 
fill  it.  Having  filled  the  tube,  I  immersed  the  end  in  a  vessel 
of  mercury,  and  erected  and  Confined  the  tube,  placing  the 
thermometer  close  to  it,  and  left  them  to  get  the  true  tem- 
perature of  the  air.  In  this  position  they  remained  about  two 
hours,  but  I  repeatedly  took  the  range  of  both — barometer, 
23.24  inches  ;  thermometer,  53°.  By  the  theodolite  we  were 
elevated  several  degrees  above  all  the  other  pinnacles  of  the 
mountain.  The  distant  horizon  smoky,  no  clouds  about  the 
mountain,  but  the  sun,  for  the  most  of  the  time,  was  partially 
obscured  by  thin  clouds  at  a  great  height  above  us. 

We  dined,  and  at  three  began  our  descent,  very  much 
chilled,  but  not  very  cold.  Saw  banks  of  snow  far  below  the 
summit.  Found  many  new  vegetables  on  the  sides  of  the 
mountain,  and  preserved  specimens.  Our  fatigue  in  descend- 
ing was  extreme.  We  entered  the  wood  in  a  deep  valley  to 
the  southward  of  our  ascent,  where  we  made  a  fire,  at  dark, 
and  slept  without  any  tent  or  cover. 

Springs   of  water  are   frequent   quite   to  the  summit.     We 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Culler.  113 

suffered  still  very  much  from  drought,  but  the  air  was  fine, 
having  a  spring  which  invigorated  and  made  us  alert  in  the 
midst  of  the  greatest  fatigue,  which  was  far  beyond  what  could 
have  been  endured  below. 

Juhj  29,  Sunday.  Began  our  march  at  daylight ;  missed 
our  tent,  and  was  obliged  to  send  our  guides  back  to  find  it, 
and  bring  on  our  baggage.  Our  friends  had  gone  on  the  night 
before.  Near  the  foot  of  the  mountain  and  meadow,  we  were 
met  and  assisted  by  the  people  who  had  come  with  our  horses. 
Arrived  at  Mr.  McMullen's  at  sunset. 

July  30,  Moyiday.  Spent  the  day  in  examining  and  ar- 
ranging our  vegetable  specimens,  which  were  many,  until  4 
p.  M.     Went  on  to  Fribourgh,  and  lodged  at  Osgood's. 

Aug.  2,  Thursday.     Arrived  at  home  at  sunset. 

Jan.  2, 1785.  In  the  evening  our  boys  had  a  public  exhibi- 
tion. Company  from  town,  Beverly,  Marblehead,  and  Water- 
town. 

Jan.  24,  Mon.     Visited  over  the  river,  nineteen  families. 

Jan.  31,  Mon.  Mr.  Wadsworth  and  Captain  Ingolson  dine<l 
here.  Captain  Ingolson  brought  a  French  boy  to  live  with 
me,  and  learn  English. 

Feb.  23„  Wed.  Went  to  Salem  and  dined  with  Captain 
Peele.  Mr.  Hall  acquainted  me  of  my  being  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Philosophical  Society,  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  21st 
of  January  last. 

3Iar.  10,  Thurs.  Went  to  Newbury.  Borrowed  Linnaeus 
of  Dr.  Killum. 

Mar.  14—23.     Very  busy  finishing  my  botanical  papers. 

May  2,  3fon.  Mr.  Prof.  Pearson  measuring  Mount  Holy- 
oke.     Went  with  him. 

May  11,  Wed.  Ordination  in  lower  parish,  Beverly.  Mr. 
McKcen  ordained. 

May  24,  Tues.  Went  into  Boston,  and  attended  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Academy. 

May  25,  Wed.     Election.     His  Excellency,  Mr.  Bowdoin, 
chosen  Governor.     I    had    the    honor  to    dine  with    his    Ex- 
cellency. 
8 


114  Life  of  Rev.  Manassch  Cutler. 

June  11,  aS'^^.  Received  an  official  letter  from  Dr.  Apple- 
ton,  Secretary  of  the  Medical  Society. 

June  13,  3Ion.  Wrote  to  the  Governor,  and  to  Dr.  Apple- 
ton,  Boston. 

£This  correspondence  is  here  subjoined.] 

Boston,  2>d  Jime,  1785. 
Rcv'd  Sir: — It  is  with  the  greatest  pleasure  that  I  improve 
this  first  oppo.  to  forward  you  an  extract  from  the  Records  of 
the  Massa.  Meda.  Soc'y,  together  with  a  printed  Copy  of  the 
Act  of  Incorporation. 

Your  answer  of  acceptance  will  give  pleasure  to  the  Soc'y, 
and  in  particular  to, 

Sir,  your  very  humble  serv., 

N.  W.  Appleton, 
Ret.  M..  Cutler.  South  Latin  School  Street. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  in 
Boston,  1st  June,  1785. 

Upon  the  ballots  being,  taken,  the  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler,  of 
Ipswich,  was  declared  duly  elected  an  honorary  Fellow. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Records.     Attest : 

N.  W.  Appleton,  Recg  Sec'y. 

[To  which  Mr.  Cutler  replied  :] 

Ipswich,  June  13,  1785. 

Sir : — I  have  received  your  letter  inclosing  an  extract  from 
the  Records  of  the  Massa.  Medical  Society,  by  which  I  am  in- 
formed that  the  Society  has  been  pleased  to  elect  me  an  hon- 
orary Fellow.  I  very  sensibly  feel  the  honor  conferred  upon 
me  by  so  learned  and  respectable  a  Society.  This  mark  of 
attention  is  the  more  flattering,  as  the  Medical  Art  is  not  my 
profession.  Please  to  express  my  acceptance  and  my  warm- 
est acknowledgments  to  the  Society  for  the  honor  they  have 
done  me. 

Should  it  be  in  my  power  to  contribute  in  the  smallest  de- 
gree toward  promoting  so  laudable  an  institution,  it  will  give 
me  the  highest  pleasure. 

I  am,  with  sentiments  of  esteem  and  respect, 

Sir,  your  most  humble  serv't, 

DocT.  N.  W.  Appleton.  M.  Cutler. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  115 

June  14,  Tues.  Mr.  Eliot  here  from  Boston,  and  dined. 
He  brought  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Dr.  Stokes,  in  Eng- 
land, a  famous  botanist,  requesting  a  correspondence  with  me. 

June  19,  Lord's  Day.  My  throat  exceedingly  sore. 
Preached,  though  with  great  difficulty. 

June  23,  Thurs.  Count  Castiglioni  called  upon  me,  a  gen- 
tleman from  Milan,  in  Italy.  He  had  letters  from  Dr.  Dexter,* 
Boston ;  Dr.  Holyoke  and  Mr.  Barnard,  Salem.  He  is  an  ac- 
complished botanist,  and  is  traveling  to  examine  the  produc- 
tions of  America.     He  and  his  servant  lodged  with  us. 

June  24,  Fri.  We  made  a  fine  collection  of  vegetables. 
Received  much  advantage  from  his  knowledge.  At  4  o'clock 
P.  M.  he  set  out  for  Newbury. 

July  24,  Lord's  Day.  (At  Killingly.)  Preached  for  Mr. 
Atkins.  Found  myself  much  better.  My  old  friend  Mr. 
Samuel  Danielson,  at  meeting. 

July  25,  Mon.  Mr.  Atkins  rode  with  me  over  to  Pomfret. 
Visited  Mr.  Putnam.  Spent  the  afternoon  very  agreeably 
with  Colonel  Grosvenor,  my  old  classmate,  and  with  my  kins- 
man, Colonel  Clark. 

July  27,  Wed.  (At  Providence.)  Waited  on  Mr.  West, 
Mr,  Brown,  Mr.  Oliver,  and  Mr.  Manning.  Visited  College. 
Mr.  Brown  was  very  complaisant,  and  went  with  me.  I  dined 
with  him,  and  was  much  pleased  with  his  family. 

July  30,  Sat.  Put  my  horse  to  pasture  at  Falmouth,  and 
went  over  to  the  vineyard,  at  Holmes'  Hole. 


*The  letter  from  Dr.  Dexter  is  as  follows: 

Boston,  June  20,  I7S5. 
Mr.  Cctleu. 

*SVr; — Permit  me  to  introduce  to  your  friendship  and  acquaintance 
the  Bearer,  Count  Castiglioni.  lie  is  an  Italian  Gentleman  from  Milan. 
His  object  in  this  Country  is  to  examine  into  the  Natural  History 
of  it. 

I  have  mentioned  you  as  a  gentleman  better  acquainted  with  Botany, 
etc.,  and  can  give  him  more  information,  than  any  other  person  in  the 
Country.  You  will  find  him  a  true  disciple  of  Linnaeus.  I  must 
therefore  beg  leave  to  introduce  him  to  your  particular  attention,  as 
his  stay  must  be  short.     And  you  will  mufth  oblige. 

Your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

Aaron  Dexter. 


116  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasse7i  Cutler. 

July  31,  Lord's  Bay.  Preached  for  Mr.  Tliaxter,  at  Ed- 
gartown.     Judge  Hicks  there. 

Aug.  1,  Mon.  Visited  my  ohl  acquaintances,  and  settled 
my  okl  accounts. 

Aug.  2,  Tues.  Mr.  Thaxter  -went  with  mc  up  the  island. 
Mr.  Morse,  of  Tisbury,  joined  us.  Dined  at  Mr.  Robert  Al- 
len's. After  dinner  Ave,  with  Mr.  Benja.  Basset,  went  to  Gay 
Head.  Found  the  fossils  very  curious ;  collected  some  speci- 
mens. 

Aug.  4,  Thurs.  Finished  my  business  at  Edgartown,  and 
hired  a  boat  to  carry  me  to  Falmouth.  Got  my  horse,  and 
rode  to  Fish's  and  lodged. 

A7(g.  5,  Fri.  Set  out  early  and  breakfasted  with  General 
Freeman,  at  Sandwich. 

Aug.  6,  Sat.  Lodged  at  Hingham,  and  breakfasted  at  Dr. 
Tufts',  at  Weymouth.  Called  on  Mr.  Cranch,  and  examined 
the  library  of  the  Hon.  John  Adams,  Esq.,  in  order  to  find 
Linnaeus,  but  could  not.  Rode  to  Mr.  Everett's  and  put  up, 
on  account  of  the  rain. 

Aug.  7,  Lord's  Lay.     Preached  for  Mr.  Everett. 

Aug.  8,  3Ion.  Came  home  and  found  all  well.  Made  a 
large  botanical  collection  in  my  journey. 

Aug.  9-13.  Preparing  papers  for  the  Volume  of  Transac- 
tions in  the  press.     Examined  plants. 

Aug.  24,  Wed.  Went  to  Cambridge,  and  attended  the 
meeting  of  the  Academy.  President  Bowdoin  absent.  Dined 
at  Mr.  Wigglesworth's. 

Aug.  26,  27.  Busy  preparing  papers  for  the  Volume  of 
Memoirs. 

Sept.  2,  Fri.  Went  to  Boston  to  meet  with  a  Committee  of 
the  Academy  for  forming  a  plan  for  promoting  agriculture. 
Delivered  my  Botanical  Paper  ^^  to  the  printer.  Dined  with 
Mr.  Guild,  and  came  home. 

Sept.  2,  Tues.  Association  convened  here.  Present :  Mr. 
Swain,  Mr.  Barnard,  Mr.    Prince,  and    Mr.  Parsons,  of   the 


*This  paper  was  published  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  American  Acad- 
emy of  Arts  and  Sciences.  It  is  entitled  ".An  Account  of  some  of  the 
Vegetable  Productions  Naturally  Growing  in  this  Part  of  America, 
Botanically  Arranged." 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  117 

Association,  and  Mr.  Forbes  and  Mr.  Fuller,  who  joined  the 
Association.  Mr.  Forbes  preached.  Also  here  :  Mrs.  Forbes, 
Mrs.  Whitney,  Mr.  Sargent,  Mr.  Quarles,  Dr.  Whitney,  and 
Dr.  Fisher. 

Sept.  28,  Wed.  Dr.  Wales,  Professor  of  Divinity  at  New 
Haven,  and  Mr.  Chanick,  a  tutor  of  that  college,  here. 

Oct.  3-15.  Exceedingly  engaged  in  transcribing  my  Botan- 
ical Paper  for  the  press. 

Oct.  18,  Tues.     Finished   transcribing  my  Botanical  Paper. 

Oct.  24,  25.  Very  busy  in  preparing  my  boys  for  an  ex- 
hibition. 

Oct.  26,  Wed.  This  evening  we  had  an  exhibition.  Mr. 
Grafton  and  Mr.  Sasa  dined  with  us.  Considerable  company 
in  the  evening  from  Salem,  Cape  Ann,  and  Newbury  Port. 
The  exhibition  well  received. 

Oct.  27,  Thurs.  Boys  went  home.  .Went  to  Salem  and 
carried  Frank  Lowell  *  and  Dick  Derby.  Dined  at  Mr. 
Derby's. 

Nov.  9,  Wed.     Meeting  of  the  Academy  at  Cambridge, 

Nov.  10,  Thurs.  Went  from  Cambridge  to  Boston.  Dined 
with  his  excellency,  the  Governor. 

Nov.  11,  Fri.  In  the  evening  attended  Dr.  Moyes'(?)  Phi- 
losophical lecture  at  Faneuil  Hall.  Ticket,  three  shillings. 
His  subject,  the  anatomy  of  plants,  tolerably  agreeable. 

Nov.  15,  Tues.     Wrote  to  Mr.  Belknap. 

Nov.  18,  Fri.     Wrote  to  Dr.  Dexter  and  Dr.  Warren. 

Dec.  6,  Tues.  Bought  five  acres  of  Avoodland,  marked  the 
bounds,  and  paid  for  it. 

Dec.  8,  Thurs.  Preparing  a  table  of  errata  for  the  Volume 
of  Memoirs. 

Dec.  9,  Fri.  Dr.  Fisher  here.  Finished  the  errata  to  send 
to  the  printer.     Sat  up  until  5  o'clock  at  night. 

*"  My  brother,  the  late  Francis  C.  Lowell,  who  gave  the  first  impulse 
to  cotton  mannfactures  in  this  country,  and  of  whose  mathematical 
calculations  whilst  engaged  in  bringing  to  perfection  the  'double 
speeder,'  the  late  Mr.  Bowciitch  said  he  did  not  suppose  that  there  was 
any  one  in  this  country  who  could  have  made  them  but  himself,  for 
whom,  too,  1  may  add,  the  city  of  Lowell  was  named,  spent  seveivnl 
years  of  his  early  life,  before  be  entered  college,  under  the  tuition  of 
Dr.  Cutler."— il/>S'.  Letter  of  Chas.  Lowell. 


118  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Dec.  16,  Fri.  We  \vent  to  Beverly  and  dined  ^vitli  Captain 
Brown.  Received  some  gooseberry  bushes  from  Mr.  Man- 
ning, President  of  the  College  at  Providence,  and  also  from 
Captain  Brown  some  pear,  plum,  cherry,  and  peach  trees, 
which  came  from  New  York,  and  some  foreign  grapes. 

[The  interleaved  Almanac  for  1786  is  lost.  Two  remarka- 
ble events  occurred  in  Massachusetts  this  year.  These  were 
the  formation  of  the  Ohio  Company,  for  the  purpose  of  pur- 
chasing lands  for  a  western  colony,  and  the  culmination  of  the 
financial  distress  of  the  people  in  Shay's  Rebellion.] 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  11!) 


CHAPTER   IV. 

Policy  of  Coxguess  i\  Regard  to  Vacant  TEuniTORY — Reasons  for  thi; 
Okganizatiox  op  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates — Support  Given 
BY  Gexei!al  Washington  to  the  Plan— Pickering's  Scheme — Offi- 
cers' Petition — Gouresponuence. 

Thus  far  the  reader  has  been  presented  with  an  auto- 
biography, written,  however,  without  the  most  distant  expec- 
tation that  it  would  ever  reach  the  public  eye.  It  may  be 
none  the  less  valuable  on  that  account.  It  is  not  only  a  faith- 
ful photograph  of  the  personal  characteristics  of  Dr.  Cutler,  but 
presents  a  most  interesting  and  instructiv-e  view  of  public  af- 
fairs, and  of  the  social  life,  as  well  as  labors,  of  that  influ- 
ential body  of  men,  known  as  the  New  England  or  Puritan 
Clergy.  The  names  of  his  associates  mentioned  in  these  daily 
records  are  known,  not  only  at  home,  but  abroad.  Their  per- 
sonal influence  was  felt  in  that  most  important  crisis  from 
1766  to  1787.  Not  only  were  they  faithful  instructors  in  re- 
ligion, but  also  intelligent  friends  of  their  country  in  its  grea 
struggle  for  independence.  In  both  church  and  state  they 
were  most  efficient  founders  and  builders.  The  extent  and 
frequency  of  their  social  intercourse  is  worthy  of  note.  Those 
plans  of  frequent  exchanges,  quarterly  fasts,  and  other  .occa- 
sions that  brouo-ht  them  too;ether,  served  to  strengthen  and 
extend  their  influence.  They  were  a  power  in  the  land,  and 
their  power  was  always  exerted  in  the  line  of  the  highest  at- 
tainments of  a  Christian  civilization. 

Up  to  this  point  Dr.  Cutler  had  shared  the  labors  of  the 
times  with  his  brethren  ;  but  now,  at  the  age  of  forty-five,  lie 
enters  upon  one  of  those  peculiar  episodes  of  human  life  that 
would  seem  like  detaching  a  well-regulated  planet  from  its 
orbit,  and  sending  it  off"  on  an  errand  fraught  with  immensely 
greater  results  than  any  that  could  have  been  accomplished 
in  its  ordinary  course.  He  did  not  ignore  or  abandon  his 
chosen  profession,  or  slacken  his  pursuit  of  the  higher  branches 


ij 


120  Life  of  Rev.  Majiasseh  Cutler. 

of  knowledge.  He  rather  brought  to  bear  upon  his  new  en- 
terprise all  the  acquisitions,  experience,  sound  judgment,  and 
elevated  aspirations  of  his  life  hitherto.  He  therefore  en- 
tered upon  the  Ohio  business  "with  a  zeal  and  enthusiasm  that 
called  forth  all  his  energies.  Most  fortunately  for  correct 
history,  he  preserved,  in  the  form  of  correspondence  and  daily 
journals,  the  principal  facts.  It  is  proposed  to  present  these 
to  the  reader  just  as  they  have  come  to  hand.  Although  there 
is  thus  given  a  basis  for  a  correct  understanding  of  the  Avhole 
subject,  there  are  some  contemporaneous  matters  that  require 
careful  consideration  in  connection  with  his  own  records. 

It  is  now  well  understood  that  the  passage,  on  July  13, 1787, 
of  the  celebrated  ordinance  of  that  date,  was  closely  connected 
Avith  Dr.  Cutler's  negotiations  at  the  same  time  with  Congress 
for  the  purchase  of  a  large  tract  of  western  land  upon  which 
t<^  organize  the  first  permanent  occupation  of  the  North- 
western Territory.  That  his  personal  influence  was  direct 
and  positive  in  bringing  about  these  results  will  sufficiently 
appear  by  a  perusal  of  his  journal,  given  in  chapters  6  and  7 
of  this  volume.  In  that  journal  he  assigns  several  reasons 
Avhy  he  pursued  a  line  of  negotiation  that  in  the  end  accom- 
plished his  o1)jects. 

The  ordinance  for  the  government  of  the  North-west  Terri- 
tory was  the  first  subject  to  receive  his  attention ;  then  came 
the  land  purchase,  though  with  him  they  were  essentially  one 
transaction.  First,  he  would  know  beforehand  the  law,  then 
terms  for  the  land — all  this  for  the  simple,  common-sense  rea- 
son that  at  that  time  he  expected  to  make  his  own  future  home 
on  that  distant  soil,  and  he  had,  before  he  undertook  the  ne- 
gotiation with  Congress,  prevailed  upon  more  than  a  hundred 
of  his  neighbors  and  personal  friends  to  cast  in  their  lot  with  him. 
Moreover,  he  was  acting  for  associates  who  represented  that 
army  by  whose  sacrifice  and  blood  the  western  country  had 
been  conquered  from  the  British  crown,  and  who  were  de- 
manding through  him  of  Congress  their  bounties,  with  the  ad- 
ditional privilege  of  converting  their  "  final-settlement  certifi- 
cates "  into  these  lands.  These  associates  were,  like  himself, 
New  England  men,  firmly  and  intelligently  attached  to  their 
own  distinctive  principles  and  social  habits.     It  was  therefore 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  121 

incumbent  on  liira  as  tlieir  agent  to  secure  both  law  and  bind 
that  would  correspond  with  their  wishes.  It  must  also  be 
borne  in  mind  that  the  organization  of  a  "  new  state  "'  was  a 
distinctive  and  leading  feature  in  the  scheme  he  was  laboring 
to  promote.  The  scheme  was  a  broad  and  comprehensive  one. 
Its  main  purposes  had  been  well  considered  by  the  associates 
who  constituted  him  their  ao-ent.  Thev  left  it  to  him  to  ma- 
ture  more  carefully  the  principles  and  details  when  he  should 
come  to  deal  directly  with  that  Congress  which  exercised  a 
rightful  sovereignty  over  the  whole  subject. 

By  referring  to  Dr.  Cutler's  journal,  chapter  7,  it  will  be 
observed  that  he  relied  upon  several  important  considerations 
as  influencing  Congress  to  grant  substantially  all  that  he  asked 
for  on  his  own  terms.  These  considerations,  claiming  prop- 
erly some  examination  from  sources  outside  of  the  bare 
mention  that  he  accords  to  them,  may  be  enumerated  as  fol- 
lows : 

1.  The  general  line  of  policy  adopted  by  Congress  in  re- 
gard to  the  North-west  Territory. 

2.  The  value  of  a  large  sale  of  western  or  "  vacant "  terri- 
tory as  a  means  of  "  paying  the  public  debt." 

3.  The  importance  of  a  systematic  occupation  of  the  west 
by  a  large  colony  of  industrious  men. 

4.  The  value  to  the  United  States  of  having  that  colony 
composed  of  men  strongly  attached  to  the  "  Federal  Union." 

5.  The  adverse  currents  with  Avhicli  Dr.  Cutler  Avas  obliged 
to  contend. 

6.  The  protection  that  would  be  given  by  the  particular  lo- 
cation he  selected  to  the  frontiers  of  Virginia  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

7.  The  favorable  influence  exerted  by  General  Washington 
in  giving  encouragement  to  the  settlement  of  the  Ohio  Valley, 
though  not  mentioned  in  Dr.  Cutler's  journal,  was  an  impor- 
tant element  at  the  time. 

In  regard  to  the  first  point  under  consideration,  we  find  that 
the  attention  of  the  Continental  Congress  was,  very  soon  after 
its  organization,  called  to  this  subject  of  the  "crown  lands"  or 
"vacant  territory."  In  importance  its  acquisition,  by  con- 
quest from   the   British   crown,  stood   only  second   to  that  of 


122  L\f^  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

political  independence.  On  the  16th  day  of  September,  1776, 
Congress  offered  the  following  bounties  in  land  to  those  who 
would  enlist  for  the  war — to  a  colonel,  500  acres  ;  lieutenant- 
colonel,  450  acres ;  major,  400  acres ;  captain,  300  acres;  lieu- 
tenant, 200  acres;  ensign,  150  acres;  private,  100  acres. 
Then,  on  12  August,  1780,  850  acres  were  oflfered  to  brigadier- 
generals  and  1,100  to  major-generals.  Liberal  offers  of  land 
had  before  this  been  made,  by  a  resolution  of  August  27, 1776, 
to  foreign  officers  and  others  who  should  leave  the  enemy's 
service  and  enlist  in  the  Continental  line.  When  these  offers 
Avere  made,  the  United  States  did  not  own  an  acre  of  land,  and 
all  the  vacant  territory  was  covered  by  claims  of  title  by  sev- 
eral of  the  states.  The  important  task  was  thus  imposed 
upon  Congress  of  quieting  all  these  claims,  so  that,  in  case  of 
successful  conquest,  all  the  back  country  might  be  regarded 
as  common  ^property,  to  be  disposed  of  for  the  common  ben- 
efit ;  ultimately,  to  be  organized  into  independent,  republican 
states,  and  to  become  parts  of  the  confederacy. 

The  attitude  of  Marjdand  and  Ncav  Jersey  upon  this  sub- 
ject was  very  positive,  indeed  so  much  so,  that  Maryland  re- 
fused to  enter  the  confederacy  until  these  claims  were  ad- 
justed. All  the  states,  except  Maryland,  accepted  the  articles 
of  confederation  as  early  as  May  21,  1779.  On  the  12th  of 
February,  1781,  New  York  made  her  deed  of  cession,  and 
Maryland  then  entered  the  confederacy,  but  with  a  distinct 
protest  on  the  subject  in  these  words :  "And  it  is  hereby  de- 
clared that,  by  acceding  to  the  said  confederation,  this  state 
doth  not  relinquish,  or  intend  to  relinquish,  any  right  or  in- 
terest she  hath  with  the  other  united  or  confederated  states  to 
the  back  country." 

It  was  undoubtedl}'-  expected  that  Virginia  and  all  other 
states  would  yield  their  claims.  The  Journals  of  Congress 
present  a  most  interesting  series  of  urgent  resolutions  and 
recommendations  for  completely  quieting  the  titles  and  vest- 
ing both  ownership  and  sovereignty  in  the  United  States.  Tlie 
Continental  Congress,  in  dealing  with  this  important  feature 
of  western  history,  showed  an  earnest  and  patriotic  disposi- 
tion and  determination  to  promote  harmony  and  secure  future 
union  by  timely  concessions  and  by  a  paramount  regard  for  the 


^ 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  123 

general  welfare.  All  this  was  happily  accomplished,  and 
Congress  then  gave  attention  to  the  measures  for  disposing  of 
the  vast  area  of  real  estate  over  which  it  could  exercise  do- 
minion after  the  treaty  of  1783. 

There  were  two  aspects  of  this  important  duty ;  one  was  the 
governmental,  the  other  its  value  as  property  to  be  disposed 
of  for  common  benefit.  In  both  these  respects  there  can  be 
traced  through  all  their  legislative  acts  an  earnest  and  patri- 
otic desire  to  reconcile  difi"erences,  accommodate  interests,  and 
promote  general  harmony.  It  was  the  occasion  for  maturing 
and  applying  upon  the  vast  interior  a  system  of  land  surveys, 
locations,  and  entries,  securing  perfect  titles  with  least  possi- 
ble expense,  such  as  had  never  before  been  attempted  on  such 
a  magnificent  scale.  In  devising  and  maturing  this  system, 
the  preconceived  ideas  and  practices  prevailing  in  New  Eng- 
land, on  the  one  hand,  and  in  the  Southern  States  on  the 
other,  came  into  close  contact.  The  southern  plan  of  enter- 
ing and  acquiring  title  to  public  lands  favored  acquisition  of 
large  and  choice  tracts  of  land  by  those  only  who  could  bear 
the  expense  of  surveys.  It  Avas  also  attended  by  great  con- 
fusion of  titles,  as  each  purchaser,  on  payment  of  a  trifle 
(two  cents  per  acre),  could  locate  his  warrant  on  any  land  not 
already  surveyed.  This  resulted  in  lapping  and  over-lapping, 
the  only  lines  being  those  run  by  each  individual  proprietor. 
By  the  New  England  plan  the  lines  were  run  and  established 
by  governmental  authority,  and  titles  came  from  grants  made, 
each  one  of  which  was  defined  by  metes  and  bounds  marked 
out  by  surveyors,  who  acted  for  the  government,  under  oath. 
Not  only  the  rights  of  separate  ownership  were  thus  protected, 
but  the  civil,  religious,  and  educational  wants  of  the  population 
were  carefully  guarded  and  accommodated.  As  an  illustra- 
tion of  the  New  England  plan  :  "  June  17,  1732,  the  General 
Court  of  Massachasetts  granted  six  miles  square  for  a  town- 
ship, to  be  laid  out  in  a  regular  form  by  a  surveyor  and  chain- 
men,  under  oath.  The  said  lands  by  them  to  be  settled  on 
the  following  conditions  :  That  they  within  the  space  of  five 
years  settle  and  have  on  the  spot  sixty  families  (the  settlers 
to  be  none  but  natives  of  Ncav  England) ;  each  settler  to  build 
a  good  and   convenient   dwelling-house    of    one    story  high. 


124  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

eigliteen  feet  square  at  least ;  and  clear  and  bring  to,  four 
acres  fit  for  improvement,  and  three  acres  more  ■well  stocked 
■with  English  grass  ;  and  also  lay  out  three  shares  in  the  to"wn 
(each  share  to  be  one  sixty-third  part  of  the  to'wn),  one  share 
for  the  first  settled  minister,  one  for  the  ministry,  one  for  the 
school ;  and  also  build  a  convenient  Meeting  House,  and  set- 
tle a  learned  and  orthodox  minister  ■within  the  time  aforesaid." 
{Hist,  of  Harclwicke,  p.  23.)  This  was  for  a  company  of  sixty 
neighbors,  ■^vho  proposed  to  settle  a  new  tract  of  country  to- 
gether. "  On  Feb.  21,  1732,  they  voted  unanimously  that 
the  remaining  lands  belonging  to  the  partners  be  lotted  out 
by  a  committee,  in  such  quantities  that  each  proprietor  have 
three  lots,  and  so  sorted  as  that  in  the  draft  each  person  may 
have  a  just  and  equal  share."  This  example  gives  the  drift  of 
the  New  England  idea ;  that  the  soil  should  pass  into  the  hands 
of  its  future  cultivators,  with  perfect  title,  and  so  that  "  each 
person  may  have  a  just  and  equal  share." 

In  this  way  these  little  republics — townships — of  convenient 
size  were  organized,  placing  the  civil  and  political  power  in 
the  hands  of  those  who  own  the  country,  at  the  same  time 
making  some  provision  for  moral  and  educational  Avants. 

So  far  as  retaining  control  until  definite  boundaries  were 
marked  out  on  visible  objects,  and  disposing  of  titles  only  in 
accordance  with  governmental  surveys,  the  New  England  plan 
seems  to  have  been  adopted  very  early  by  Congress,  but  it 
required  long  discussions  and  efforts  to  agree  upon  details. 
The  first  ordinance  "  for  ascertaining  the  mode  of  disposing 
of  the  western  land  "  that  was  reported,  required  townships 
10  miles  square,  each  mile  to  be  6,086  feet  in  length,  thus 
dividing  the  township  into  100  lots  of  850  acres  each.  The 
next  report,  April  26,  1785,  proposed  seven  miles  square,  with 
sections  of  640  acres  each,  or  49  in  a  township  ;  of  these  one 
section.  No.  16,  was  to  be  set  apart  for  school  purposes,  and 
one  section,  29,  for  support  of  religion.  This  latter  provision 
Avas  stricken  out  by  a  singular  expression  of  the  legislative 
wull.  Of  the  twenty-three  members  present  seventeen  voted 
to  retain,  and  six  to  strike  out ;  but  the  votes  being  by  states 
the  rules  gave  the  small  minority  the  control  over  that  ques- 
tion, and  the  section  for  support  of  religion  was  stricken  out 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  125 

of  the  bill.  The  next,  and  last  report,  adopted  May  20,  1785, 
fixed  the  system  substantially  as  it  has  remained  ever  since  ; 
that  is,  surveys  to  be  made  by  government  in  ranges,  towns, 
and  sections,  townships  six  miles  square,  divided  into  36  sec- 
tions of  640  acres  each  ;  titles  to  be  obtained  only  by  entry 
in  a  government  office  of  a  tract  surveyed  and  recorded. 
The  provision  for  section  16  has  been  retained.  All  this  is 
substantially  the  New  England  theory.  At  first  there  was 
much  diversity  of  opinion  as  to  price,  the  amount  that  a  pur- 
chaser might  buy,  and  evident  leaning  to  the  policy  of  a  close 
and  compact  settlement  of  the  new  country  beginning  with 
the  eastern  ranges  and  not  allowing  any  squatter  or  pre-emp- 
tion rights. 

As  evidence  of  the  diversity  of  opinion  then  prevailing  upon 
this  question  of  public  policy,  the  following  extracts  from 
letters  coming  from  influential  sources  are  worthy  of  notice  : 

General  Washington,  in  a  letter  to  Colonel  Grayson,  of  Vir- 
ginia, dated  Aug.  22, 1785,  says  :  "  No  doubt  but  the  information 
of  Congress  from  the  back  country  is  better  than  mine  respect- 
ing the  operation  of  the  ordinance  (passed  May  20,  1785,  for 
disposing  of  western  lands) ;  but  I  have  understood  from  some 
sensible  people  that  besides  running  they  know  not  where  to 
purchase,  the  lands  are  of  so  versatile  a  nature  that,  to  the 
end  of  time,  they  will  not  by  those  acquainted  therewith 
be  purchased  either  in  townships  or  square  miles."  July 
26,  1786,  he  writes  to  Colonel  Grayson  :  "  I  Avish  very  sin- 
cerely that  the  land  ordinance  may  answer  the  expectations 
of  Congress.  I  had,  and  still  have,  my  doubts  of  the  utility 
of  the  plan,  but  pray  devoutly  that  they  may  never  be  realized, 
as  I  am  desirous  of  seeing  it  a  productive  branch  of  revenue." 
In  a  letter  to  the  Countess  of  Huntington,  dated  June  30, 
1785,  he  says  :  "  Having  had  the  inclosed  resolutions  and  ordi- 
nances sent  to  me  by  the  President  himself,  as  the  result  of 
the  long  and  painful  deliberations  on  the  mode  of  disposing 
of  the  western  lands,  I  will  delay  no  longer  to  express  my 
concern  that  your  ladyship's  benevolent  views  are  not  better 
seconded."  The  letter  to  the  Countess  of  Huntington  was  in 
response  to  an  application  made  by  her,  and  presented  to 
Congress  by  Washington,  for  lands   to   enable   her  to   send   a 


126  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

colony  of  benevolent  and  religious  people  to  locate  near  the 
Indian  tribes  and  labor  for  their  benefit.  The  "  long  and 
painful  deliberation  on  the  mode  of  disposing  of  western 
lands  "  was  closed  by  the  passage  of  the  ordinance  of  May 
20,  1785,  but  it  is  quite  evident  that  the  plan  adopted  did  not 
meet  with  Washington's  full  approval.  His  views  Avere  un- 
doubtedly more  in  accordance  with  the  Virginia  system.  Mad- 
ison, in  his  letter  to  Washington,  April  16,  1787,  refers  to  the 
prevailing  diiferences  of  opinion  upon  this  important  question. 
(Sparks,  vol.  1,  p.  519).  He  says:  "Between  five  and  six 
hundred  thousand  acres  have  been  surveyed  and  are  ready 
for  sale."  These  were  seven  ranges,  of  Avhich  at  that  time 
only  a  small  amount  had  found  purchasers.  "  The  mode  of 
sale,  however,"  he  continues,  "  will  probably  be  a  source 
of  different  opinions,  as  will  the  mode  of  disposing  of  the  un- 
surveyed  residue.  The  eastern  gentlemen  remain  attached  to 
the  system  of  townships.  Many  others  are  equally  strenuous 
for  indiscriminate  locations.  The  states  which  have  lands  of 
their  own  for  sale  are  suspected  of  not  being  hearty  in  bring- 
ing the  federal  lands  into  market." 

This  statement  of  Madison  discloses  two  important  facts 
connected  with  the  western  territory  and  its  settlement  at  that 
time.  One  is,  that  although  the  township  plan  of  surveys  had 
been  adopted  May  20,  1785,  the  controversy  between  that 
system,  as  the  favorite  of  the  eastern  gentlemen,  and  that  of 
"  indiscriminate  locations,"  the  Virginia  plan,  was  still  kept 
up.  The  scheme  of  townships  has  in  the  end  prevailed,  and 
those  miniature  republics,  covering  the  vast  interior  of  the 
Great  Republic,  are  like  the  roots  of  the  giant  oak,  striking 
down  deep  into  the  soil,  giving  life,  strength,  and  perpetuity 
to  the  rightful  authority  of  the  people  in  conducting  their  po- 
litical affairs.  The  other  fact  stated  is,  that  some  of  the  states 
were  not  hearty  in  bringing  the  federal  lands  into  market. 
This  affords  a  key  to  the  line  of  negotiations  pursued  by  Dr. 
Cutler.     He  went  to  the  states  that  were  willing  to  sell. 

As  further  evidence  of  the  prevailing  difference  of  opinion, 
Mr.  King  writes  to  Colonel  Pickering,  May  30,  1785:  "I 
transmit  you  a  copy  of  the  land  ordinance  as  it  finally  passed. 
All  parties  who  have  advocated  particular  modes  of  disposing 


Life  of  Rev.  Uanasseh  Cutler.  127 

of  the  western  territory  have  relinquished  some  things  tliey 
■ftished,  and  the  ordinance  is  a  compromise  of  opinions." 
Colonel  Grayson,  in  a  letter  to  Pickering,  dated  New  York, 
April  27,  1785,  gives  the  following  interesting  statement  of 
the  tone  and  temper  of  the  discussion  then  in  progress  upon 
this  subject.  He  says  :  "  Since  my  arrival  here,  I  have  been 
busily  engaged  in  assisting  about  passing  an  ordinance  for  the 
disposal  of  the  western  territory.  I  think  there  has  been  as 
much  said  and  written  about  it  as  would  fill  forty  volumes  ; 
and  yet  we  seem  far  from  a  conclusion,  so  difficult  it  is  to  form 
any  system  which  will  suit  our  complex  government,  and  when 
the  interests  of  the  component  parts  are  supposed  to  be  so 
different.  I  made  a  motion  three  days  ago  which  has  nearly 
divided  the  Continent  (meaning  Congress)  into  equal  moities. 
The  object  of  it  was  to  double  the  quantity  of  surveying,  and 
to  sell  the  lands  in  townships  and  sections  alternately.  This 
I  did  under  the  impression  that  it  would  accommodate  both 
the  eastern  and  southern  states.  However,  this  has  been 
strongly  objected  to,  and  both  sides  adhere  to  their  opinions; 
so  that  here  we  stick,  without  any  movement,  either  retrograde 
or  progressive." 

It  is  evident  that  there  were  two  points  of  controversy, 
one,  the  systematic  surveys  by  government,  as  opposed  to 
"indiscriminate  location;"  the  other  was  the  question  of  sell- 
ing in  large  or  small  tracts.  The  New  England  theory  of 
governmental  surveys  prevailed  ;  but  there  was  a  decided  lean- 
ing toward  selling  in  large  tracts  and  in  compact  and  continu- 
ous locations.  This  probably  favored  Dr.  Cutler  in  his  appli- 
cation for  a  large  tract,  to  be  settled  or  colonized  in  an  organ- 
ized manner.  It  was  in  this  way  that  adjacent  lands  not  sold 
would  be  advanced  in  value. 

In  conducting  his  negotiations  with  Congress,  Dr.  Cutler 
makes  the  following  entry  in  his  journal,  July  21,  1787  :  "At 
length  I  told  them  that  if  Congress  would  accede  to  my  pro- 
posal, I  would  extend  the  purchase  from  the  tenth  township 
(of  the  seventh  range)  from  the  Ohio  and  to  the  Scioto,  inclu- 
sively, by  which  Congress  would  pay  more  than  four  millions 
of  the  public  debt."  The  last  clause  of  this  sentence  brings 
before    us    the    second   point    mentioned   above   as   requiring 


128  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

consideration.  Paying  the  public  debt  by  means  of  these  va- 
cant lands  had  long  been  a  cherished  plan  of  Congress.  Their 
records  show  that,  in  urging  upon  the  states  to  relinquish  such 
claims  as  they  might  have  to  the  western  territory,  the  motive  is 
constantly  pressed  that  this  property  should  be  used  as  a  sup- 
port to  the  "  public  credit  "  and  for  the  "  payment  of  the  debt." 
It  was  at  that  time  their  only  reliable  resource.  They  could 
not  levy  or  collect  a  dollar  by  taxation  of  any  kind.  The 
lands  had  no  value,  unless  it  could  be  imparted  to  them  by  an 
actual  sale.  The  effort  to  obtain  money  from  sales  in  the 
seven  ranges  had  not  succeeded.  Here,  however,  was  a  prop- 
osition to  pay  off  the  most  sacred  of  national  obligations — a 
debt  representing  the  services  and  sacrifices  of  that  army  to 
whose  valor  the  nation  owed  its  life.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, the  motive  was  one  of  peculiar  urgency  ;  and  its  use 
by  the  agent  of  the  associates  representing  the  army  was 
legitimate  and  undoubtedly  contributed  to  his  success. 

This  theory  of  making  wild  lands  a  basis  of  revenue  and  a 
support  to  the  finances  of  government  Avas  really  a  new  de- 
parture in  that  direction.  It  had  not  been  the  policy  of  the 
British  Government  or  of  the  Colonies  to  derive  any  consid- 
erable revenue  from  this  source.  In  his  instructions  to  Gov- 
ernor Tryon,  of  the  New  York  Colony,  dated  February  3, 
1774,  Earl  Dartmouth  fixes  the  following  limit  to  public  sales 
of  land,  after  surveys  and  advertisements  had  been  made  : 
''  That  no  lot  is  put  up  to  such  sale  at  a  less  price  than  six 
pence  per  acre,  and  all  such  lots  are  to  be  sold  subject  to  a 
reservation  to  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  of  an  annual  quit- 
rent  of  one-half  penny  sterling  per  acre." 

The  Virginia  plan  required  two  cents  per  acre  to  be  paid 
before  locating  a  tract.  These  amounts  could  hardly  be  re- 
garded as  more  than  covering  the  expenses  of  a  land  office. 
That  extensive  and  fertile  region  embraced  in  Kentucky  and 
West  Tennessee  yielded  no  financial  support  to  either  state  or 
national  governments,  except  something  in  the  way  of  military 
bounties.  In  fact,  the  pioneer  to  Kentucky  richly  earned  his 
lands.  The  bold  and  hardy  adventurer  into  that  beautiful 
country  "  came,  saAV,  and  conquered,"  each  one  for  himself. 
The  only  aid  supplied  by  the  parent  state,  Virginia,  to  her 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  129 

truant  child  was  five  hundred  pounds  of  gunpowder,  delivered 
at  Pittsburg,  and  then  guarded  down  the  Ohio  River  by  per- 
sonal daring  and  enterprise,  and  distributed  among  the  early 
pioneers.* 

Congress,  however,  early  entered  upon  the  iiolicy  of  treat- 
ing the  vacant  lands,  the  back  country,  as  property  to  be  used 
for  the  "■  comiiion  ))cnefit  "  and  as  a  support  to  "  public  credit." 
This  subject  received  the  attention  of  a  grand  committee, 
composed  of  one  member  from  each  state,  appointed  July  31, 
1782,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Gilman-,  Jackson,  Howell,  Dyer, 
Duane,  Witherspoon,  Clymer,  McKean,  Hanna,  Lee,  William- 
son, Rutledge,  and  Telfair.  On  the  5th  of  September,  1782, 
this  committee  reported  the  following  proposition  :  "  That  it 
is  their  opinion  that  the  western  lands,  if  ceded  to  the  United 
States,  might  contribute  toward  a  fund  for  paying  the  debts 
of  the  states."  On  motion  of  Mr.  Witherspoon,  this  proposi- 
tion was  changed  to  read:  "it  would  be  an  important  fund  for 
the  discharge  of  the  national  debt."  This  substitution  of 
"national  debt"  in  place  of  the  debts  of  the  states  indicates 
an  earl}^  tendency  to  assert  national  sovereignty  over  this  vast 
common  property. 

Another  grand  committee  report,  April  5,  1784 :  "  That 
Congress  still  consider  vacant  territory  as  a  capital  resource. 
That  this,  too,  is  the  time  Avhen  our  confederacy,  with  all  the 
territory  included  within  it,  should  assume  its  ultimate  and 
permanent  form." 

This  subject  is  brought  forward  in  numerous  other  instances, 
and  in  a  way  that  fully  indicates  the  importance  attached  to  it. 

It  is  thus  quite  evident  that  Dr.  Cutler  was  acting  in  entire 
harmony  with  a  line  of  public  policy  that  had  been  plainly 
marked  out,  when  he  offered  to  provide  for  about  one-tenth 
of  the  public  debt  out  of  property  that  was  at  the  time  abso- 
lutely worthless  to  the  government. 

Next  in  importance  to  a  system  of  surveys  was  a  "  compact 
and  progressive  "  settlement  of  the  new  country.  By  govern- 
mental surveys,  instead  of  indiscriminate  location,  not  only 
the  value  of  the  land  as  property,  but  its  occupation  also,  Avas 


*  Rioi:.  of  Geo.  Rogers  Clark. 

9 


130  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Ctdler. 

lield  under  the  control  of  government.  Indeed,  it  may  be 
claimed  that,  without  this  land  surveying  system,  matured  at 
the  right  time,  and  urged  into  execution  by  the  right  men, 
the  Virginia  or  southern  plan  would,  in  all  probability,  have 
prevailed  all  over  the  west.  That  plan  admitted  of  unlimited 
locations,  made  by  each  purchaser  for  himself  at  a  merely 
nominal  price.  It  was  a  plan  without  a  system,  involving  the 
uncertainty  of  titles,  as  well  as  practical  monopoly  of  the 
choicest  lands  in  the  hands  of  the  few  who  had  the  ability  to 
make  early  and  large  entries.  As  a  curse  upon  the  soil  it 
might  have  proved  second  only  to  slavery,  and  would  probably 
have  opened  the  way  for  that  system  of  labor. 

Following  this  organized  system  of  surveys,  we  find  the 
policy  was  to  discourage  the  squatter  plan,  and  encourage 
"  compact "  settling.  By  the  prevailing  custom  of  those  pio- 
neer days,  the  progress  of  western  settlement  was  the  result 
of  individual  enterprise.  The  brave  and  hardy  pioneer  ven- 
tured alone,  or  with  a  few  neighbors,  to  make  selections  of 
land,  establish  a  "  tomahawk  right,"  and  patiently  to  endure 
the  perils  and  hardships  of  the  savage  wilderness.  While,  the 
good  results  to  civilization  of  such  efforts  must  not  be  over- 
looked nor  undervalued,  it  still  required  a  more  thoroughly 
organized  effort  to  plant  and  nourish  on  that  virgin  soil  those 
principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  that  should  forever 
prove  the  basis  of  future  government  and  social  well-being. 
Had  it  been  left  solely  to  the  individual  and  isolated  adven- 
turer to  carry  forward  the  occupation  of  the  great  valley,  the 
foundations  of  society  might  have  been  loosely  laid,  and  the 
results  far  different  from  that  which  now  makes  the  territory 
covered  by  the  Ordinance  of  '87  the  very  keystone  and  sup- 
port of  the  nation. 

It  is  at  this  most  interesting  crisis  of  national  expansion, 
that  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates  undertook  and  performed 
a  service  which  has  caused  "  the  wilderness  to  bud  and  blos- 
som as  the  rose."  They  were  the  first  to  conceive  and  exe- 
cute on  a  large  scale  a  compact  and  systematic  settlement  of 
the  country. 

Dr.  Cutler  entered  fully  into  this  policy,  and  urges  it  upon 
Congress  as  a  motive  for  acceding  to  his   plans  of  purchase. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  131 

We  find  the  following  entry  in  his  journal:  "It  was  our  in- 
tention to  secure  a  large  and  immediate  settlement  of  the 
country  by  the  most  robust  and  industrious  people  in  America ; 
and  that  it  would  be  made  systematically,  which  must  instantly 
advance  the  value  of  federal  lands,  and  prove  an  important 
acquisition  to  Congress."  He  says  again  :  "  Mr.  Osgood 
highly  approved  of  our  plan,  and  told  me  he  thought  it  the 
best  formed  in  America.  He  dwelt  much  on  the  advantage  of 
system  in  a  new  settlement ;  said  system  had  never  before 
been  attempted."  This  consideration  thus  urged  at  the  time 
upon  Congress  corresponds  with  vicAvs  that  evidently  pre- 
vailed in  regard  to  the  occupation  of  the  north-west.  Con- 
gress, in  various  measures  proposed,  both  for  the  disposing  of 
lands  and  government  of  the  territory,  had  indicated  a  policy 
of  separate  states  compactly  bounded,  and  of  sales  proceeding 
continuously  from  the  eastern  limits  westward. 

General  Washington  expresses  what  was  undoubtedly  a  pre- 
vailing opinion  on  this  subject  in  the  following  extracts  from 
his  letters.  In  a  letter  to  Hugh  Williamson,  March  15,  1785, 
he  says :  "  Two  things  seem  naturally  to  result  from  this 
agreement  [treaty]  with  the  western  Indians,  the  terms  on 
which  western  lands  are  to  be  disposed  of,  and  the  mode  of 
settling  there.  The  first,  in  my  opinion,  ought  not  to  be  de- 
layed ;  the  second  ought  not  to  be  too  diffusive.  Compact 
and  progressive  settling  will  give  strength  to  the  Union,  ad- 
mit law  and  good  government,  and  federal  aids  at  an  early 
period.  Sparse  settlements  in  several  new  states,  or  a  large 
territory  for  one,  will  have  the  directly  .contrary  effects  ;  and, 
whilst  it  opens  a  large  field  to  land  jobbers  and  speculators, 
who  are  prowling  about  like  wolves  in  many  shapes,  will  in- 
jure the  real  occupiers  and^  useful  citizens,  and  consequently 
the  public  interest.  If  a  tract  of  country,  of  convenient  size 
for  a  new  state,  contiguous  to  the  present  settlements  on  the 
Ohio,  is  laid  off,  and  a  certain  proportion  of  the  land  seated, 
or  at  least  granted,  before  any  other  state  is  marked  out,  and 
no  land  is  to  be  obtained  beyond  the  limits  of  it,  we  shall,  I 
conceive,  reap  great  political  advantages  from  such  a  line  of 
conduct ;  and,  without  it,  we  may  be  involved  in  much  trouble 


132  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

and  perplexity  before  any  new  state  will  be  well  organized,  or 
contribute  any  thing  to  the  support  of  the  Union." 

In  a  letter  to  James  Duane,  dated  September  7,  1783,  he 
says :  "  To  suffer  a  wide-extended  country  to  be  overrun  with 
land  jobbers,  speculators,  and  monopolizers,  or  even  scattered 
settlers,  is,  in  my  opinion,  inconsistent  with  that  wisdom  and 
policy  which  our  true  interest  dictates,  or  which  an  enlightened 
people  ought  to  adopt ;  and  besides,  it  is  pregnant  of  dis- 
putes, both  with  the  savages  and  among  ourselves,  the  evils  of 
which  are  easier  to  be  conceived  than  described. 
Unless  some  such  measures  as  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  sug- 
gesting are  speedily  adopted,  one  of  two  capital  errors  Avill 
inevitably  result  and  is  near  at  hand  ;  either  the  settling,  or 
rather  overspreading,  of  the  western  country  will  take  place  by 
a  parcel  of  banditti,  who  will  bid  defiance  to  all  authority,  Avhile 
they  are  skimming  and  disposing  of  the  cream  of  the  country, 
at  the  expense  of  many  suffering  officers  and  soldiers  who 
have  fought  and  bled  to  obtain  it,  and  are  now  waiting  the 
decision  of  Congress  to  point  them  to  the  promised  reward  of 
their  past  dangers  and  toils ;  or  a  renewal  of  hostilities  with 
the  Indians,  brought  about,  more  than  probably,  by  this  very 
means." 

The  view  of  this  subject  thus  presented  by  Washington  was 
undoubtedly  the  one  that  controlled  the  action  of  Congress  at 
that  time.  He  says  :  "  Compact  and  progressive  settling  will 
give  strength  to  the  Union,  admit  law  and  good  government, 
and  federal  aids,  at  an  early  period."  Dr.  Cutler's  negotia- 
tions were  based  upon  these  ideas.  The  Union,  law,  good 
government,  federal  aid,  were  precisely  the  motives  he  urged 
upon  Congress,  all  of  which  Avere  to  be  secured  by  "  compact 
and  progressive  settling."  To  thisJie  could  add  the  assurance 
that  this  important  line  of  public  policy  should  be  applied  by 
the  "  most  robust  and  industrious  people  in  America."  This 
coincidence  of  views,  as  entertained  by  General  Washington 
and  the  agent  of  his  old  comrades,  is  worthy  of  notice,  and  is 
a  striking  proof  of  the  tlieorj^  that  there  had  been  a  continued 
interchange  of  views,  in  regard  to  the  permanent  occupation 
of  the  Ohio  valley,  between  the  Commander-in-chief  and  his 
military  associates.     This  view  of  the  matter  will  be  presented 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  133 

more  distinctly  farther  on  in  the  narrative  of  the  preliminary 
conditions  that  existed  at  the  time  Dr.  Cutler  entered  upon 
his  negotiations  with  Congress  on  behalf  of  the  Ohio  Company. 

The  policy  of  Congress  on  this  subject  is  indicated  in  the 
resolution  of  October  3,  1787,  "  to  raise  700  troops  to  protect 
the  settlers  on  the  public  lands  from  the  depredations  of  the 
Indians,  to  facilitate  the  surveying  and  selling  of  said  lands, 
in  order  to  reduce  the  public  debt,  and  to  prevent  all  unwar- 
rantable intrusions  thereon." 

The  following  statement,  made  by  Mr.  Levi  Munsell  in  a 
letter  to  Ephraim  Cutler,  dated  Fletcher,  Miami  County, 
Ohio,  August  17,  1842,  shows  that  the  policy  of  preventing 
"unwarrantable  intrusions"  upon  the  public  lands  was  most 
rigidly  enforced.  Mr.  Munsell  was  one  of  the  "700  troops" 
mentioned  in  the  above  resolution  of  Congress.  In  describing 
the  state  of  the  western  country  at  that  time,  he  says  :  "  There 
was  not  any  settlement  on  the  western  bank  of  the  Ohio  from 
Pittsburg  to  the  Mississippi ;  only  a  few  hunters  just  below 
the  falls,  or  what  is  called  Clark's  grant,  and  a  few  squatters 
in  the  neighborhood  Avhere  Steubenville  is  now.  They  were 
ordered  to  move  immediately  off  the  public  lands.  They  did 
not,  and  still  refused  to  quit.  They  were  determined  to  hold 
the  lands  by  what  is  called  '  tomahawk  improvements,'  as 
many  had  in  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  About  one  hundred 
men  were  sent  to  burn  them  out.  There  were  about  thirty 
hunters  with  their  rifles  paraded  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  with 
every  appearance  of  an  intention  to  defend  themselves,  Our 
troops  landed  and  marched  up  to  them,  and  told  them  if  they 
wanted  to  save  any  thing  that  was  in  their  cabins  they  might 
have  so  many  minutes  to  do  it  in.  They  moved  what  little 
plunder  they  had  out  of  them,  and  the  cabins  were  filled  with 
rails  and  other  combustibles,  and  the  troops  set  fire  to  them 
and  burnt  them  up.  There  were  some  few  that  were  not  dis- 
covered at  this  time,  that  lay  a  little  back  from  the  river, 
which  attempted  to  raise  some  corn  that  year,  but  it  was  all 
destroyed  and  the  cabins  burnt." 

This  marks  a  transition  from  "  tomahawk  "  to  systematic,  per- 
manent improvement.     A  niotive  back  of  it  all  was  that  which 


134  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

is  expressed  in  the  resolution — to  so  manage  this  vast  and  re- 
cently acquired  property  as  to  "  reduce  the  public  debt." 

With  these  important  elements  Dr.  Cutler  found  it  necessary 
to  deal,  and  to  satisfy  the  prevailing  demand  for  a  revenue 
from  land  and  for  compact  and  well  organized  settlement. 

Another  motive  urged  upon  Congress  is  found  stated  in  his 
journal  in  these  words :  "  The  uneasiness  of  the  Kentucky 
people  with  respect  to  the  Mississippi  was  notorious.  A  re- 
volt of  that  country  from  the  Union,  if  a  war  with  Spain  took 
place,  was  universally  acknowledged  to  be  highly  probable ; 
and  most  certainly  a  systematic  settlement  in  that  country, 
conducted  by  men  strongly  attached  to  the  federal  govern- 
ment, and  composed  of  young,  robust,  hardy,  and  active 
laborers,  who  had  no  idea  of  any  other  than  the  federal  gov- 
ernment, I  conceive  to  be  an  object  worthy  of  some  attention." 
To  understand  the  strength  and  value  of  this  appeal,  it  is  nec- 
essary to  go  back  and  look  at  the  situation  as  it  then  existed. 
It  was  briefly  and  pointedly  stated  by  General  Washington  in 
his  letter  to  Governor  Harrison,  of  Virginia,  under  date  of 
October  10,  1784.  He  says  :  "  I  need  not  remark  to  you,  sir, 
that  the  flanks  and  rear  of  the  United  States  are  possessed  by 
other  powers,  and  formidable  ones,  too  ;  nor  how  necessary  it 
is  to  apply  the  cement  of  interest  to  bind  all  parts  of  the 
Union  together  by  indissoluble  bonds,  especially  that  part  of 
it  which  lies  immediately  west  of  us,  with  the  middle  states. 
For  what  ties,  let  me  ask,  should  we  have  upon  these  people  ? 
How  entirely  unconnected  with  them  shall  we  be,  and  Avhat 
troubles  may  Ave  not  apprehend,  if  the  Spaniards  on  their 
right,  and  Great  Britain  on  their  left,  instead  of  throAving 
stumbling-blocks  in  their  way,  as  they  noA\'  do,  should  hold 
out  lures  for  their  trade  and  alliance  ?  What,  AA'hen  they  get 
strength,  which  Avill  be  sooner  than  most  people  conceive  (from 
the  emigration  of  foreigners,  who  A\nll  have  no  particular  pre- 
dilection toward  us,  as  Avell  as  from  the  removal  of  our  own 
citizens),  Avill  be  the  consequence  of  their  having  formed  close 
connections  Avith  both  or  either  of  those  powers,  in  a  commer- 
cial way  ?  It  needs  not,  in  my  opinion,  the  gift  of  prophecy 
to  foretell.     The  western  states  (I  speak  now  from  my  own 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  135 

observation)  stand,  as  it  Avere,  upon  a  pivot.     The  touch  of  a 
feather  would  turn  tliem  any  way." 

Washington  proceeds  at  length  in  this  letter  to  urge  the  im- 
portance of  opening  lines  of  internal  improvement  between 
the  seaboard  and  the  Ohio  valley,  as  the  means  of  supplying 
that  "  cement  of  interest "  Avhich  would  bind  the  states  to  be 
formed  in  the  great  central  valley  by  "  indissoluble  bonds  to 
the  Union."  This  presents  an  interesting  coincidence  of 
views  as  between  Washington  and  the  agent  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany  ;  the  one  striving  to  unite  the  west  to  the  east  by  com- 
mercial interests,  the  other  bv  throwino-  in  at  the  rio-ht  time 
and  at  the  strategic  point  a  systematic  occupation  of  the 
country  by  those  who  Avere  "  strongly  attached  to  the  federal 
government." 

It  is  historically  true  that  at  that  time,  and  subsequently, 
the  population  west  of  the  mountains  did  "  stand  on  a  pivot." 
It  is  also  true  that  Governor  St.  Clair,  supported  by  the  very 
men  forming  the  pioneer  force  Avhich  occupied  the  country  as 
a  result  of  Dr.  Cutler's  successful  negotiation  Avith  Congress, 
did  contribute  largely  to  turn  that  pivot  in  the  right' direction. 

An  interesting  correspondence  took  place  in  171'0,  betAveen 
General  Rufus  Putnam  and  Fisher  Ames,  commencing  Avith 
the  folloAving  prefiice  from  the  former  to  the  latter  :  "  In  con- 
versation Avith  you  at  NeAV  York  in  July  last,  3^ou  made  this  a 
question  :  '  Can  Ave  retain  the  Avestern  country  Avithin  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  and,  if  Ave  can,  of  Avhat  use  Avill 
it  be  to  them  V  "  General  Putnam  then  proceeds,  in  a  long, 
closely  Avritten  letter,  to  argue  in  favor  of  the  practicability 
and  value  of  retaining  the  West  as  part  of  the  Union.  Ames 
was  a  decided  friend  to  the  associates  of  the  Ohio  Company, 
and  aided  them  subsequently  very  materially  in  settling  their 
affairs  Avith  Congress ;  but  his  question  to  Putnam  reflected 
the  pivotal  condition  at  that  time  of  the  most  important  mat- 
ter that  ever  engaged  the  attention  of  the  American  people. 

Another  element  of  the  situation  as  presented  by  Dr.  Cut- 
ler is  found  in  the  diversity  of  interests  and  vieAvs  then  pre- 
vailing among  the  old  thirteen  states,  Avho  had  the  control  and 
disposal  of  this  common  property.  The  eastern  states,  es- 
pecially Massachusetts,  Avere  not  favorably  disposed  to  a  trans- 


136  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

fer  of  tlieir  best  population  to  a  distant  location  Avhich  might 
in  time  disturb  their  relative  weight  in  the  Union.  There 
were  also  large  areas  of  unoccupied  lands,  either  within  the 
bounds  of  their  own  states,  or  adjacent  thereto.  New  York 
had  a  Great  West,  and  Massachusetts  a  Province  of  Maine. 

General  Putnam  called  the  attention  of  Washington  to  this 
state  of  affairs  in  his  letter,  dated  April  5,  1784.  He  says 
Massachusetts  was  "forming  a  plan  for  selling  the  eastern 
country ;  that  New  York  was  wisely  inviting  eastern  people 
to  settle  in  that  state,"  hence  the  delegates  could  not  be  re- 
lied upon  to  prosecute  the  Ohio  scheme.  The  extreme 
southern  states  may  be  supposed  not  to  have  been  antago- 
nistic, but  less  interested  than  the  more  middle  states.  Hence 
we  find  that  when  Dr.  Cutler  started  on  his  visit  to  New 
York  three  of  his  letters  of  introduction  were  to  members  of 
Congress  from  Virginia. 

There  Avere  valid  reasons  for  his  pursuing  this  line  of  intro- 
duction and  negotiation.  Virginia  was  directly  interested  in 
securing  protection  to  her  western  frontier,  as  Avell  as  occupa- 
tion of  the  country  adjacent  to  that  Avhich  had  been  set  apart 
as  bounty  lands  for  her  soldiers  between  the  Scioto  and  Lit- 
tle Miami.  In  his  choice  of  location  Dr.  Cutler  was  confined 
to  an  Ohio  River  frontage  extending  from  the  southern  limit 
of  the  seven  ranges  (near  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum)  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Scioto  ;  otherwise  he  would  have  been  thrown 
outside  of  the  seven  ranges,  away  from  all  lines  of  communi- 
cation, or  west  of  the  Little  Miami.  In  choosing  the  border 
between  the  Muskingum  and  Scioto  he  gave  Virginia  pre- 
cisely what  she  needed,  while  the  Symmes'  location,  with  the 
Virginia  bounty  lands,  covered  the  entire  flank  of  settlements 
to  that  extent  in  a  south-westerly  direction.  This  deference 
to  the  interests  of  Virginia  oifers  an  easy  and  natural  expla- 
nation of  the  fact  that  he  placed  the  decision  of  his  whole  mission 
in  the  hands,  not  of  the  eastern,  but  of  the  southern  states.  The 
governmental  and  land  ordinances,  which  were  parts  of  the 
same  transaction,  were  decided  by  five  southern  states  out  of 
eio-ht  votinw  in  favor. 

There  is  another  influence  of  a  personal  nature  that  can  be 


Life  of  Rev.  3Iana8seh  Cutler.  137 

traced  from  its  inception  throughout   the   entire   progress  of 
this  business. 

That  influence  was  exerted  by  the  Commander-in-chief  of 
the  army  in  favor  of  this  scheme  of  western  emigration  as  the 
only  practical  plan  of  relieving  the  personal  embarrassments 
resulting  from  the  inability  of  Congress  to  pay  them  for  their 
services.  The  nature  and  extent  of  this  influence  is  worthy 
of  more  attention  than  can  be  accorded  to  it  in  these  pages,  but 
its  relation  to  that  transaction  which  decided  the  future  of 
the  north-west  is  so  close  that  it  ought  not  to  be  ignored. 

No  man  connected  with  the  history  of  our  country  ever  ex- 
erted a  greater  positive  influence  over  his  associates  than  did 
General  Washington  over  those  who  were  his  immediate  and 
intimate  companions  during  the  great  Revolutionary  struggle. 
He  had  personal  enemies  and  was  the  object  of  that  jealousy 
which  is  one  of  the  certain  and  most  active  attendants  upon 
all  military  enterprises,  but  these  fierce  antagonisms  in  the 
case  of  Washington,  Avhile  they  failed  to  displace  him  from 
command,  rallied  to  his  support  a  host  of  true  and  tried 
friends  Avhose  sympathies  and  attachments  were  never  dimin- 
ished by  accusation,  and  never  lost  their  warmth  either  during 
the  struggle,  or  after  its  close.  He  was  a  Virginian,  but  re- 
ceived from  New  England  a  most  cordial  support  to  his  nomi- 
nation to  command.  His  first  field  of  military  eff'ort  was  not 
in  his  native  state,  or  surrounded  by  old  neighbors  and  former 
associates.  His  first  conquest  was  to  secure  the  confidence 
and  cordial  support  of  an  army,  not  composed  of  the  chivalry 
of  the  south,  but  drawn  from  the  furrows  and  shops  of  a  plod- 
ding, industrious  yeomanry,  the  cool-headed  and  sternly- 
disciplined  Yankee.  His  military  history  was  made  north  of 
the  Potomac.  From  Boston,  through  Long  Island,  New 
York  to  Valley  Forge  and  New  Jersey,  in  the  last  encamp- 
ment on  the  Hudson,  after  his  victorious  return  from  York- 
town,  he  was  in  constant  contact  with  the  army  of  the  north, 
and  his  verdict  was  :  "  God  bless  the  New  England  troops." 

The  fortunes  of  war  thus  threw  Washington  into  close  com- 
panionship with  the  very  men  who,  at  the  close  of  the  great 
struggle,  were  prepared  both  by  their  adventurous  spirit  and 
their  stern    necessities    to    seek    for   new  homes,  while   they 


138  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler. 

abandoned  those  which  had  been  made  desolate.  Hence,  we 
find  that  the  disbanding  of  the  army  was  the  occasion  of  that 
organization  which  resulted  in  a  systematic  and  permanent 
settlement,  by  the  companions  of  Washington,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Ohio. 

It  is  certainly  true  that  the  leisure  of  camp  life  on  the 
banks  of  the  Hudson,  after  the  struggle  was  virtually  ended, 
was  attended  with  perils  as  great  as  any  that  had  been  en- 
countered in  the  active  prosecution  of  the  war.  The  outside 
pressure  of  England's  hostility  was  removed  at  a  time  when 
there  was  really  no  internal  power  to  regulate,  cement,  and 
build  upon  the  newly  laid  foundations.  The  resources  and 
credit  of  the  Government  had  become  exhausted.  Its  only 
power  was  to  recommend  the  states  to  furnish  money  from 
their  own  scanty  means.  .  The  success  of  the  old  Continental 
Congress  was  wonderful,  in  view  of  the  total  want  of  com- 
pulsory power  in  carrying  out  their  plans.  Their  records  are 
a  series  of  "  Recommendations  "  to  the  states ;  and  the  fact 
that  their  calls  were  so  generally  and  fully  responded  to,  is 
evidence  of  the  high  personal  character  of  those  who,  from 
1775-83,  raised  and  maintained  an  army  strong  enough  to 
cope  with  their  giant  enemy-;  and  who  secured  the  alliance  of 
France  just  at  the  point  of  time  when  a  failure  in  that  respect 
would  have  been  fatal.  That  old  Continental  Congress  must 
have  been  composed  of  men  who  enjoyed  the  utmost  confi- 
dence of  their  several  constituencies.  Up  to  the  time  of 
the  French  loan,  they  were  compelled  to  "  make  bricks  without 
straw."  Their  main  supply  of  money  came  from  the  printer's 
types,  and  was  "  promises  to  pay."  The  states  responded 
grudgingly  in  requisitions  of  sustenance  and  supplies  for  the 
army,  but  were  themselves  quite  destitute  of  hnrd  cash  ;  and 
when  the  certain  prospect  of  peace  dawned,  a  general  bank- 
ruptcy of  the  finances  ensued. 

Instead  of  recalling  the  patient  Avisdom  and  persevering 
patriotism  of  their  Congress,  and  rallying  to  its  support  in  its 
final  hour  of  trial,  a  loud  clamor  was  raised  against  it;  and 
the  little  power  it  possessed  was  dissipated  by  a  withdrawal  of 
that  confidence  which  had  been  its  only  support.  Sectional 
bitterness,  business  antagonisms,  local  and  personal  jealousies, 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  139 

ruled  the  hour.  Every  thing  tended  to  disintegration  and  weak- 
ness. The  wants  of  the  army  Avere  imperative.  Their  poverty 
and  suffering  went  beyond  the  camp,  and  invaded  their  homes. 
They  had  reached  the  limits  of  human  endurance.  Revolt  and 
mutiny  were  bold  ;  the  demand  for  a  dictator's  power  was 
urgent,  and  found  utterance  in  a  direct  proposition  to  the 
Commander-in-chief  to  assume  arbitrary  power  and  control. 
While  these  perilous  influences  were  at  work,  the  practical, 
business-like,  and  patriotic  alternative  was  presented  of  ac- 
cepting homes  in  the  western  wilderness,  just  secured  by  com- 
mon effort  from  England,  in  lieu  of  money  unattainable  because 
of  the  poverty  of  the  government.  The  influence  of  these 
various  schemes  of  immigration  Avas  not  a  noisy  power  ;  it  left 
but  few  records,  and  they  have  received  but  little  attention. 
Beginning  with  Washington's  early  entries  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio,  then  his  familiar  communications  with  his  daily 
companions — the  officers,  their  petition,  the  adoption  of  a  land 
system  of  surveys,  the  ultimate  action  of  the  officers,  their 
application  to  Congress,  and  we  can  trace  through  all  these 
steps  that  quiet,  persistent,  and  energetic  spirit  of  honest  en- 
deavor to  explore  and  occupy  the  back  country  which  was  a 
power  more  potent  than  any  other  in  securing  to  the  nation 
and  the  world  the  beneficent  results  of  independence. 

That  Washington  took  a  decided  interest  in  promoting  the 
scheme  of  settlement  in  tlie  Ohio  valley,  as  carried  out  by  the 
Ohio  Company,  is  evident  from  his  early  personal  acquaint- 
ance with  the  valley,  his  ownership  of  large  tracts  of  land  in 
it  before  the  war,  and  his  efforts  to  colonize  his  lands  ;  from 
his  association,  during  the  war,  with  the  men  who  were  active 
in  promoting  the  settlement ;  from  the  assistance  he  rendered 
to  the  originators  of  the  scheme,  in  urging  upon  Congress  a 
favorable  consideration  of  their  petition ;  from  the  direct 
statements  of  the  pioneers  that  the  Ohio  valley  was  pointed 
out  to  them  by  their  Commander-in-chief;  and  from  his  active 
efforts  to  promote  lines  of  commercial  intercourse  between  the 
Ohio  valley  and  the  Virginia  settlements. 

The  following  evidences  of  Washington's  personal  interest 
in   the   settlement  of  the    Ohio  valley  are  given,  showing  the 


140  Life  of  Rev.  JIanasfteJi  Cutler. 

close    connection    between  his    plan    and    the   line  of  policy 
adopted  by  the  Ohio  Company. 

Mt.  Vernon,  in  Virginia,  July  15,  1773. 

The  subscriber  having  obtained  patents  for  upwards  of 
twentv-thousand  acres  of  land  on  the  Ohio  and  Great  Kana- 
wha  (ten  thousand  of  which  are  situated  on  tiie  banks  of  the 
first-mentioned  river,  between  the  mouths  of  the  two  Kana- 
whas  and  the  remainder  on  the  Great  Kanawha,  or  New  River, 
from  the  mouth,  or  near  it,  in  one  continued  survey)  proposes 
to  divide  the  same  into  any  sized  tenements  that  may  be  de- 
sired, and  lease  them  upon  moderate  terms,  allowing  a  reason- 
able number  of  years,  rent  free,  provided,  within  the  space  of 
three  years  from  next  October,  three  acres  for  every  fifty  con- 
tained in  each  lot,  and  proportionately  for  a  lesser  quantity, 
shall  be  cleared,  fenced,  and  tilled ;  and  that  by  or  before  the 
time  limited  for  the  commencement  of  the  first  rent,  five  acres 
for  every  hundred,  and  proportionately,  as  above,  shall  be  in- 
closed and  laid  down  in  good  grass  or  meadow ;  and,  moreover, 
that  at  least  fifty  good  fruit  trees  for  every  like  quantity  of 
land  shall  be  planted  on  the  premises.  Any  persons  inclin- 
able to  settle  on  these  lands  may  be  more  fully  informed  of 
the  terms  by  applying  to  the  subscriber  near  Alexandria,  or, 
in  his  absence,  to  Mr.  Lund  Washington,  and  would  do  well 
in  communicatina:  their  intention  before  the  first  of  October 
next,  in  order  that  a  sufficient  number  of  lots  may  be  laid  ofi" 
to  ansvrer  the  demand.  As  these  lands  are  among  the  first 
which  have  been  surveyed  in  the  part  of  the  country  they 
lie  in,  it  is  almost  needless  to  premise  that  none  can  exceed 
them  in  luxuriance  of  soil,  or  convenience  of  situation,  all  of 
them  lying  upon  the  banks  either  of  the  Ohio  or  Kanawha,  and 
abounding  with  fine  fish  and  wild  fowls,  of  various  kinds,  as 
also  in  most  excellent  meadows,  many  of  which  (by  the  bounti- 
ful hand  of  nature)  are,  in  their  present  state,  almost  fit  for 
the  scythe. 

From  every  part  of  these  lands  water  carriage  is  now  had 
to  Fort  Pitt,  by  an  easy  communication,  and  from  Fort  Pitt, 
up  the  Monongahela  to  Redstone,  vessels  of  convenient 
burden  may  and  do  pass   continually,  from  whence,  by  means 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  l-tl 

of  Cheat  River  and  other  navigable  branches  of  the  Mononga- 
hela,  it  is  thought  the  Portage  to  the  Potomac  may  and  will  be 
reduced  within  the  compass  of  a  few  miles  to  the  great  ease 
and  convenience  of  the  settlers  in  transporting  the  produce  of 
their  lands  to  market.  To  which  may  be  added  that  as  patents 
have  now  actually  passed  the  seals  for  the  several  tracts  here 
offered  to  be  leased,  settlers  on  them  may  cultivate  and  en- 
joy the  lands  in  peace  and  safety,  notwithstanding  the  un- 
settled counsels  respecting  a  new  colony  on  the  Ohio ;  and  as 
no  sight  money  is  to  be  paid  for  these  lands,  and  quit-rent  of 
two  shillings  sterling  a  hundred  demanded  some  years  hence 
only,  it  is  presumable  that  they  will  alwaj-s  be  held  upon  a 
more  desirable  footing  than  when  both  these  are  laid  on  with 
a  heavy  hand.  And  it  may  not  be  amiss  further  to  observe, 
that  if  the  scheme  of  establishing  a  new  government  on  the 
Ohio,  in  the  manner  talked  of,  should  ever  be  effected,  these 
must  be  the  most  valuable  lands  in  it,  not  only  on  account  of 
the  goodness  of  soil,  and  other  advantages  above  enumerated, 
but  from  their  contiguity  to  the  seat  of  government,  which 
more  than  probable  will  be  fixed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great 
Kanawha.  George  Washington. 

• 

In  writing  to  General  Putnam,  under  date  of  June  2,  1783, 
he  refers  to  his  lands  as  follows  :  "  I  am  endeavoring  to  do 
something  with  the  lands  I  now  hold  and  have  held  in  that 
country  these  twelve  or  fourteen  years.  The  inclosed  con- 
tains the  terms  on  which  I  propose  to  lease  them.  ...  If 
you  think  the'  promulgation  of  the  paper  inclosed  can  be  of 
service  to  others  or  myself,  it  is  optional  with  you  to  do  so." 

Subsequently,  he  offered  to  the  Countess  of  Huntington  the 
use  of  his  lands  to  promote  her  benevolent  scheme  in  behalf 
of  the  Indians.  We  thus  see  that  Washington  was  the  first  to 
propose  a  colonization  scheme  in  the  Ohio  valley. 

There  is  sufiicient  traditional  evidence  that  the  merits  of  the 
Ohio  country  was  a  subject  of  familiar  discussion  between  the 
Commander  and  his  officers  during  the  war.  This  evidence 
comes  from  those  of  his  military  comrades,  some  of  them 
members  of  his  military  family,  who  were  among  the  early 
.settlers  at  Marietta.     The  more  tranquil  period  of  their  lives 


142  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

subsequent  to  the  Indian  war  which  was  closed   by  Wayne's 
treaty  in  1795,  aiforded  them  an  opportunity  to    recall    the 
stirring  scenes  through  which  ,  they  had    passed    during    the 
Revolutionary  struggle.     They  remembered  the  dark  days  of 
'77,  when   defeat    and   discouragement   prevailed.     Then  the 
prospects  of  Britain  were   in   the   ascendant ;  and  with  their 
Commander-in-chief  the  question  of  surrender,  with  its  terms, 
was  one  of  frequent  and  earnest  discussion.     At  that  crisis, 
as  they  canvassed  the  situation  around  the  gloomy  camp-fires 
of  Valley  Forge,  he  declared  that,  sooner  than  surrender  to 
the  enemy  upon  any  probable  terms,  he  would  retire  beyond 
the  mountains,  and  establish  another  base  in  the  Ohio  valley. 
The  exact  influence  of  this  idea  upon  the  minds  of  his  follow- 
ers can  not  be  traced  with    historical    accuracv,  but    it  was 
cherished  during  the  lives  of  those  veterans,  and  imparted  to 
younger  listeners,  and   comes  down   as  all  traditions — "  It  is 
wdiat  I  heard  my  father  say."     The  following  written  state- 
ment of  this  tradition  is   found   among   the   papers  of  Judge 
Ephraim  Cutler,  who  came  to  Marietta  in  1795,  and  was  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  many  of  the  old  officers,  from  whom 
he  derived  it :  "  During  the  Revolutionary  struggle  the  British 
established  a  printing-press   in  New  York,  entitled  the  '  Riv- 
ington  Royal  Gazette.'     At  a  very  dark   and   gloomy  period 
of  that   momentous   struggle,  there  w^as   a  very  large   number 
of  papers,  scattered  by  design,  that   gave   an   account  of   a 
treaty  of  subsidy  made   with   the  Emperor  of  Russia,  which 
provided  that  a  large  number  of  Russian  troops  should  b.e  fur- 
nished the  British  for  the  American  contest ;  that  the  troops 
were  expected   early  the    next  season.     These   papers,   with 
this  information,  fell    into    the    hands  of   the    officers  of  the 
American    army,    and   of   course    became    a    matter  of   deep 
solicitude.     At  General  Washington's  table  it  became  a  mat- 
ter of  discussion.     '  If  this  be  true,  and  we   are   driven  from 
the  Atlantic  border,  what  is  to  be  done  ?'  was  the  anxious  in- 
quiry.     '  We  will  retire  to  the  valley  of  the  Ohio,'  says  Wash- 
ington,   '  and  there    be    free.'     This    saying  was    carried    by 
officers  to   soldiers,  and  by  them  to  their  friends,  and  thus  a 
spirit  of  inquiry  respecting  Ohio  was  elicited." 

This  traditional  reminiscence  finds  ample  support  in  state- 


Life  of  Keo.  Manasiseli  Cutler.  143 

ments  made  by  Ramsey  in  his  History  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution, published  in  1789.  After  the  loss  of  Fort  Washington, 
and  the  evacuation  of  New  York  city,  the  American  forces 
were  driven  in  hasty  retreat  across  New  Jersey,  and  only  es- 
caped capture  by  crossing  to  the  west  side  of  the  Delaware 
River.  The  period  of  enlistment  of  the  army  had  expired. 
AVhole  reffiments  returned  homeward.  With  two  or  three 
thousand  men  of  a  retreating,  half  naked  army,  whose  unshod 
feet  had  marked  the  frozen  soil  of  Jersey  with  patriotic  blood, 
the  Commander-in-chief  was  compelled  to  look  this  question 
of  retreat  fairly  in  the  face.  The  historian  says  :  "  General 
Washington  about  this  time  retreated  to  Newark.  Having 
abundant  reasons,  from  the  posture  of  affairs,  to  count  on  the 
necessity  of  a  further  retreat,  he  asked  Colonel  Reed  :  '  Should 
Ave  retreat  to  the  back  part  of  Pennsylvania,  will  the  Penn- 
sylvanians  support  us  ?'  The  Colonel  replied  :  '  If  the  lower 
counties  are  subdued,  and  give  up,  the  back  counties  Avill  do 
the  same.'  The  General  then  said  :  '  We  must  retire  to  Au- 
gusta County,  Virginia.  Numbers  will  be  obliged  to  repair 
to  us  for  safety,  and  we  must  try  what  we  can  do  in  carrying 
on  a  predatory  war  ;  and,  if  overpowered,  we  must  cross  the 
Allegheny  Mountains.'  " 

From  the  same  historian  we  have  also  another  fragment  of 
history  giving  further  evidence  of  the  estimation  then  placed 
upon  the  Ohio  valley  as  a  strategic  base  in  the  grand  struggle 
for  freedom  and  independence.  As  soon  as  the  British  cabi- 
net became  aware  that  France  Avas  determined  to  aid  the 
United  States,  they  dispatched  messengers  to  this  country 
with  overtures  of  peace,  making  fair  promises,  and  hoping  at 
least  to  divide  the  councils  and  Aveaken  the  support  of  the 
cause.  These  overtures  Avere  met  by  Congress  Avith  a  positive 
demand  for  an  acknoAvledgment  of  independence,  or  an  evacua- 
tion of  the  country,  as  preliminary  steps  to  negotiation. 

The  folloAving  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  dated  June  14, 
1778,  Avritten  as  part  of  a  private  correspondence  by  Henry 
Laurens,  Avho  Avas  then  President  of  the  old  Continental  Con- 
gress. He  says  to  the  King's  Commissioners  :  "  You  are  un- 
doubtedly acquainted  Avith  the  only  terms  upon  which  Congress 
can  treat  for  accomplishing  this  good  end.     Although  Avriting 


144  Life  of  llev.  Manasseli  Cutler. 

in  a  private  character,  I  may  venture  to  assert  Avith  great  as- 
surance, tliej  never  will  recede,  even  admitting  the  continu- 
ance of  hostile  attempts  ;  and  that  from  the  rage  of  war  the 
good  people  of  these  states  shall  be  driven  to  commence  a 
treaty  iveshvard  of  yonder  mountain." 

An  entr}^  made  in  the  records  of  the  Ohio  Company  gives 
further  testimony  in  this  direction.  At  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Indian  war,  the  colony  at  Marietta  was  in  great  danger  of 
being  destroyed.  The}^  applied  to  Congress  for  assistance, 
and  state  explicitly  that  they  were  induced  to  venture  into 
the  wilderness  upon  the  representations  of  Washington.  They 
use  these  words  in  their  petition  :  "  It  is  with  pain  that  we 
have  heard  the  cruel  insinuations  of  those  who  were  disaffected 
to  the  settlement  of  this  country.  It  is  not  possible  that 
those  men  who  have  pursued  into  these  woods  that  path  to  an 
honorable  competence  which  was  pointed  out  to  us  by  the 
Commander-in-chief  of  American  armies,  should  be  doomed 
to  be  the  victims  of  a  jealous  policy,  and  to  see  the  mangled 
bodies  of  their  friends  exposed — a  spectacle  to  prevent  immi- 
gration."' 

This  language  is  sufficiently  explicit  to  show  the  sympathy 
which  existed  between  the  projectors  of  the  settlement  and 
their  old  commander.  The  assistance  rendered  by  him  to  the 
Ohio  scheme  in  its  earliest  stages,  will  sufficiently  appear  in 
his  letters  to  Congress  and  General  Putnam  on  that  subject. 

It  is  a  most  interesting  chapter  in  Washington's  personal 
history  that,  immediately  on  his  retirement  from  the  command 
of  the  army,  he  undertook  to  promote  a  system  of  internal 
improvements  upon  the  best  and  only  plan  then  known,  by 
which  he  hoped  to  secure  the  trade  of  the  Avest  to  Virginia 
seaports.  These  efforts  were  in  progress  at  the  very  time  that 
the  Ohio  Company  were  maturing  their  plans.  There  is  prob- 
ably no  direct  evidence  that  there  was  any  agreed  concert  of 
action,  by  which  one  party  undertook  to  occupy  and  cultivate 
the  Ohio  valley,  and  produce  from  it  staples  of  commerce, 
while  the  other  party  sought  to  affoi-d  to  them  their  shortest 
and  best  routes  to  markets  ;  but  the  coincidence  is  sufficiently 
striking  to  deserve  attention,  and  may  afford  a  valid  reason 
for  the  decided  friendship  and  co-operation  which  Dr.  Cutler 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  145 

received  from  Virsrinia  members  of  Congress.  Whether  the 
co-operation  was  designed  or  not,  it  took  phxce.  It  is  also 
evident  that  both  parties  understood  the  importance  of  the 
subject.  Washington,  in  his  letter  to  Governor  Harrison  and 
others,  discusses  the  matter  fully,  while  the  pamphlet  pre- 
pared by  Dr.  Cutler  in  regard  to  the  western  country  points 
out  the  same  channels  for  trade  that  Washington  at  the. time 
was  most  earnestly  promoting.  Without  pursuing  further  this 
line  of  inquiry  into  the  primitive  conditions  and  relations  of 
the  "  back  country,"  it  is  well  for  the  reader  to  bear  in  mind 
the  main  facts  as  herein  stated. 

These  historical  items  which  constituted  the  materials  with 
which  Dr.  Cutler  was  called  to  deal,  may  be  summarized  as 
follows : 

1.  It  is  evident  that,  next  to  political  independence  of  the 
mother  country,  a  complete  conquest  of  the  western  territory 

,then  held  by  the  British  crown  was   a   paramount  object  with 
the  Continental  Congress. 

2.  That  all  clouds  upon  title  arising  from  the  claims  of  the 
several  states  were  carefully  removed.  This  was  effected  by 
patient  and  persistent  effort  on  the  part  of  Congress,  avoiding 
all  discussions  as  to  validity  of  title,  but  urging  harmony  and 
mutual  concessions  for  the  common  good.  These  appeals 
were  met  with  patriotic  determination  to  remove  all  cause  of 
future  dissension  that  might  arise  from  conflictino;  claims  of 
sovereignty  or  ownership. 

3.  The  first  pledge  of  the  lands  was  to  the  army,  a  pledge 
that  the  army  alone  could  redeem  by  actual  conquest.  Along 
with  the  promised  bounties  to  officers  and  soldiers,  was  the 
repeated  assurance  given  from  time  to  time  that  this  vast  real 
estate  should  be  the  basis  of  a  public  credit. 

4.  A  plan  of  surveys  was  devised  and  applied  in  advance 
of  occupation,  under  which  perfect  titles,  without  expense, 
were  placed  within  the  reach  of  settlers,  having  lines  drawn 
and  boundaries  fixed  with  visible  marks.  The  subdivisions 
were  in  quantity  to  suit  the  purchasers  of  small  means,  while 
no  restriction  was  placed  upon  those  who  were  inclined  to 
large    investments.     This  system  has   operated   to   place   the 

10 


146  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutter. 

ownership  of  the  great  Mississippi  valley  in  the  same  hands 
that  wield  the  ballot,  and  control  its  political  destinies.  Next 
to  its  conquest,  this  equitable  distribution  of  ownership  may 
be  regarded  as  the  most  important  exercise  of  governmental 
power  ever  exerted  in  laying  solid  foundations  for  the  Ameri- 
can Republic.  Next  to  this  stand  the  laws  and  ordinances 
that  were  forever  to  remain  as  the  basis  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty.  Freedom,  religion,  morality,  and  knowledge,  with 
those  perfect  titles,  by  which  "  every  man  could  sit  under  his 
own  vine  and  fig  tree,  w'ith  none  to  molest  or  make  him  afraid," 
have  combined  to  give  the  western  states  all  they  enjoy  of 
stability  and  prosperity. 

5.  The  systematic  occupation  of  the  great  valley,  as  distin- 
guished from  the  prevailing  efforts  of  isolated  adventurers, 
was  undertaken  by  that  army  by  whose  toils  and  endurance 
the  conquest  was  effected.  While  it  is  true  that  a  poverty  re- 
sulting from  a  bankrupt  confederacy  pressed  them  into  this 
service,  yet  a  better  selection  could  not  have  been  made.  In- 
telligence, experience,  integrity  of  character,  were  marked 
characteristics  of  those  who  organized  and  wrouirht  out 
results. 

6.  With  the  founders  of  the  Ohio  Company,  the  plan  of 
a  neiv  state,  to  be  taken  from  territory  nearest  adjacent  to 
the  old  thirteen,  was  a  favorite  object.  Its  future  political 
control  Avas  doubtless  a  prize  for  honorable  aspirations,  while 
its  fertility  and  natural  resources  offered  reliable  prospects  for 
competence  and  domestic  enjoyment. 

7.  This  movement  received  the  cordial  support  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-chief, and  to  his  personal  influence  its  success  is 
largely  due. 

8.  Dr.  Cutler  well  understood  all  these  elements  of  personal 
associations  and  interests,  and,  in  view  of  their  controlling 
influence,  went  directly  to  the  "  members  from  the  southward 
who  favored  a  contract."  In  this  effort  he  succeeded  in  plant- 
ing upon  the  western  territory,  by  a  compact  inviolable,  except 
by  common  consent,  "  the  fundamental  principles  of  civil  and 
religious  liberty."  These  principles  at  that  time  were  cor- 
dially accepted  by  those  with  whom  he  had  to  deal,  with  the 
exception  only  of   slavery.     This  was    yielded    to    meet    the 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  147 

moral  and  social  demands  of  a  pioneer  force  composed  of 
New  England  men  who  would  not  undertake  the  perils  and 
hardships  of  such  an  enterprise  unless  they  could  carry  their 
own  ideas,  policies,  and  social  customs  with  them.  Having 
placed  the  success  of  his  application  in  the  hands  of  the  Vir- 
ginia and  southern  members,  the  equivalents  proposed  by  him 
were  amply  sufficient  to  secure  their  acquiescence  in  the  de- 
mand for  the  total  exclusion  of  slavery,  and  the  full  recogni- 
tion in  its  stead  of  the  "  rights  of  man,"  with  "  religion, 
morality,  and  knowledge  "  as  the  basis  of  all  laws,  constitu- 
tions, and  governments  which  forever  hereafter  shall  be  formed 
in  said  territory. 

9.  At  that  time,  the  infant  commerce  of  the  Ohio  valley  be- 
gan to  demand  markets  and  outlets.  The  rivers  were  nature's 
highways.  Foreign  control  of  the  Gulf  with  its  affluents  in- 
vited either  alliance  or  war  to  secure  for  inland  commerce  a 
due  recognition  of  its  necessities,  rights,  and  interests.  Wash- 
ington represented  the  case  as  on  a  "  pivot,"  and  that  "  the 
weight  of  a  feather  might  turn  it  any  way."  He  wisely  pro- 
posed to  prepare  commercial  routes  to  the  Atlantic  seaboard, 
and  thus  bind  them  with  the  "  cement  of  interest."  Dr.  Cutler 
proposed  to  throw  into  the  Ohio  valley,  at  the  opportune  mo- 
ment and  at  the  strategic  point,  a  colony"  conducted  by  men 
strongly  attached  to  the  federal  government,"  and  composed 
of  "  young,  robust,  hardy,  and  active  laborers,  who  had  no 
idea  of  any  other  than  the  federal  government."  This  move- 
ment was  to  make  "  a  larsie  and  immediate  settlement  of  the 
most  robust  and  industrious  people  in  America,"  and  to  be 
made  "  systematically,"  as  distinguished  from  the  ordinary 
westward  pioneer  progress  resulting  from  individual  daring 
and  effort.  Along  with  these  carefully  prepared  preliminaries, 
the  appointment  of  governor,  judge,  and  other  officers  of  the 
new  territory,  guaranteed  a  devotion  and  loyalty  to  the  federal 
authority  that  forever  settled  the  question  of  secession  or 
disunion. 

10.  Dr.  Cutler  and  his  associates,  however,  were  obliged  to 
encounter  adverse  currents.  The  eastern  states  were  jealous 
of  their  relative  weight  in  national  affairs,  and  did  not  favor 
an  emigration  of  their  best  people  to  a  distant  and  possibly 


148  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

an  antagonistic  locality.  To  them  the  prospect  of  commercial 
advantages  was  very  remote,  and  although  the  eastern  states 
may  not  have  been  openly  hostile,  it  was  only  those  who  sym- 
pathized with  such  an  enterprise  as  the  Ohio  Company  who 
would  give  active  co-operation.  Hence  we  find  that  General 
Putnam  told  Washington  that  he  could  not  depend  on  his  own 
representative  in  Congress,  and  Dr.  Cutler  distrusted  Mr. 
Dane,  his  personal  friend  and  neighbor.  These  adverse  influ- 
ences drove  him  to  a  quarter  where  he  found  the  way  opened 
by  friendly  personal  relations  and  local  interests. 

As  a  final  result  of  Dr.  Cutler's  labors  as  agent  for  his  as- 
sociates, New  England  ideas,  policies,  and  industrial  customs 
were  transferred  to  the  Avestern  territory  ;  but  it  was  done 
mainly  through  the  friendl}^  co-operation  and  support  of  Vir- 
ginia and  the  southern  states. 

11.  This  systematic  occupation  of  the  heart  of  the  Great 
Republic,  originating  with  its  conquerors,  the  army,  and  car- 
ried forward  step  by  step  under  most  enlightened  direction, 
marks  as  distinctively  the  landing  at  Marietta  on  the  seventh 
of  April,  1788,  of  the  founders  of  the  central  empire  as  the 
landing  at  Plymouth  or  Jamestown  set  the  historical  land- 
marks of  civilization  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 

This  inquiry  leads  to  the  close  of  the  military  struggle,  to 
the  final  reduction  of  the  army  at  New  Windsor,  and  presents 
the  peculiar  difficulties  and  embarrassments  arising  from  a 
lack  of  any  sufficient  provision  by  Congress  for  the  payment 
of  an  army  who  had  won  the  prize  first  staked  upon  the  great 
issue  of  "  life,  fortune,  and  sacred  honor."  Life  and  fortune 
had  been  freely  spent.  Honor  belonged  to  the  victors  ;  but 
it  did  not  clothe  or  feed  their  families,  did  not  return  the  best 
years  of  their  lives,  or  secure  them  from  future  want.  They 
accepted  final  certificates  drawn  upon  a  bankrupt  treasury,  in 
place  of  payments ;  but  they  did  not  yield  either  to  despon- 
dency or  sullenly  clamor  for  position  under  a  government  of 
their  own  creation.  They  recalled  the  promise  of  the  "  hon- 
orable Congress,"  made  September  20,  1776,  which  offered  as 
a  bounty  for  enlistment,  lands  that  could  be  converted  into 
homes. 

The  measures  taken  by  the  officers  at  that  time  constitute 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  149 

the  real  foundation  of  that  important  movement  which  re- 
sulted in  an  organized,  systematic,  occupation  of  the  Missis- 
sippi valley,  based  upon  and  accompanied  by  laws,  consti- 
tutions, and  ordinances  which  distinguish  it  from  the  pre- 
vailing individual  efforts  of  pioneer  progress.  The  documents 
relatino;  to  this  oris-inal  movement  are  of  sufficient  interest  to 
justify  their  introduction  in  a  complete  form. 

In  point  of  time  the  first  recorded  evidence  that  the  Ohio 
scheme  was  one  of  frequent  discussion  among  the  army  officers, 
and  under  circumstances  Avliich  Washington  must  have  fully 
understood,  is  found  in  a  letter  of  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering, 
dated  New  Windsor,  April  7,  1783  (just  five  years  before  the 
landing  at  Marietta),  to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  as  follows  :  "  But  a  new 
plan  is  in  contemplation,  no  less  than  forming  a  neiv  state  west- 
ward of  the  Ohio.  Some  of  the  principal  officers  of  the  army 
are  heartily  engaged  in  it.  About  a  week  since  the  matter 
was  set  on  foot  and  a  plan  is  digesting  for  the  purpose.  In- 
closed is  a  rough  draft  of  some  propositions  respecting  it, 
which  are  generally  approved  of.  They  are  in  the  hands  of 
General  Huntington  and  General  Putnam,  for  consideration, 
amendment,  and  addition.  It  would  be  too  tedious  to  explain 
to  you  in  writing  all  the  motives  to  attempt  this  measure,  and 
all  the  advantages  which  will  probably  result  from  it.  As 
soon  as  the  plan  is  well  digested  it  is  intended  to  lay  it  be- 
fore an  assembly  of  the  officers,  and  to  learn  the  inclination 
of  the  soldiers.  If  it  takes,  an  application  will  be  made  to 
Congress  for  the  grant,  and  all  things  depending  on  theni.  I 
shall  have  much  to  say  to  you  on  this  subject."  Again,  on 
April  14,  1783,  he  writes  to  Mr.  Hodgdon  :  "  General  Putnam 
is  warmly  engaged  in  the  new-planned  settlement  on  the  Ohio. 
He  is  very  desirous  of  getting  Hutchins'  map.  Mr.  Aitken 
had  them  to  sell.     If  possible,  pray,  forward  me  one." 

The  following  letter  of  the  Commander-in-chief  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War,  and  the  petition  of  the  officers  to  Congress, 
show  the  hardships  to  which  they  were  reduced : 

General  Washington  to  the  Secretaky  of  War: 

Headquarters,  October  2,  1782, 
My  Dear  Sir : — Painful  as  the  task  is  to  describe  the  dark 


150  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler, 

side  of  our  affairs,  it  sometimes  becomes  a  matter  of  indis- 
pensable necessity.  Without  disguise  or  palliation  I  will  in- 
form you  candidly  of  the  discontents  Avhich  at  this  moment 
prevail  universally  throughout  the  army. 

The  evils  of  which  they  complain,  and  which  they  suppose 
almost  remediless,  are  the  total  want  of  money  or  the  means 
of  existing  from  one  day  to  another,  the  heavy  debt  they  have 
already  incurred,  the  loss  of  credit,  the  distress  of  their  fam- 
ilies at  home,  and  the  prospect  of  poverty  and  misery  before 
them.  It  is  vain,  sir,  to  suppose  that  military  men  will  acquiesce 
contentedly  with  bare  rations,  when  those  in  the  civil  Avalks  of 
life,  unacquainted  with  half  the  hardships  they  endure,  are 
regularly  paid  the  emoluments  of  office.  While  the  human 
mind  is  influenced  by  the  same  passions  and  inclinations  this 
can  not  be.  The  military  man  has  the  same  turn  for  sociability 
as  a  person  in  civil  life.  He  conceives  himself  equally  called 
upon  to  live  up  to  his  rank,  and  pride  is  hurt  when  circum- 
stances restrain  him.  Only  conceive,  then,  the  mortification 
they  must  suffer  (even  the  general  officers)  when  they  can  not 
invite  a  French  officer,  a  visiting  friend,  or  a  traveling  ac- 
quaintance to  a  better  repast  than  bad  whisky  (and  not  always 
that)  and  a  bit  of  beef,  without  vegetables,  will  afford  them  ! 

The  officers  also  complain  of  the  hardships  w^hich  they  think 
might  and  ought  to  be  remedied  without  delay  ;  such  as  the 
stopping  of  promotions  when  there  have  been  vacancies  for  a 
long  time,  the  withholding  of  commissions  from  those  who  are 
justly  entitled  to  them,  and  have  warrants  or  certificates  of 
their  appointments  from  the  executives  of  their  states  ;  and 
particularly  the  leaving  the  compensation  for  their  services  in 
a  loose,  equivocal  state,  without  ascertaining  their  claims  upon 
the  public  or  making  provisions  for  the  future  payment  of 
them. 

While  I  premise  that  no  one  I  have  seen  or  heard  of  ap- 
pears opposed  to  the  principle  of  reducing  the  army  as  cir- 
cumstances may  require,  yet  I  can  not  help  fearing  the  result 
of  the  measure  in  contemplation,  under  present  circumstances, 
when  I  see  such  a  number  of  men  goaded  by  a  thousand  stings 
of  reflection  on  the  past  and  of  anticipations  of  the  future 
about  to  be  turned  into  the  world  soured  by  penury  and  what 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  151 

tlie}^  cull  the  ingratitude  of  the  public,  iuvolvetl  in  debts,  Avithout 
one  farthing  of  money  to  carry  them  home  after  having  spent 
the  flower  of  their  days,  and  many  of  them,  their  patrimonies, 
in  establishing  the  freedom  and  independence  of  their  coun- 
try, and  suifering  every  thing  that  human  nature  is  capable  of 
enduring  this  side  of  death  ;  I  repeat  it,  that  Avhen  I  consider 
these  irritating  circumstances,  without  one  thing  to  soothe 
their  feelings  or  dispel  the  gloomy  prospects,  I  can  not  avoid 
apprehending  that  a  train  of  evils  Avill  folloAv  of  a  very  seri- 
ous and  disturbing  nature.  On  the  other  hand,  could  the 
officers  be  placed  in  as  good  situation  as  Avhen  they  came  into 
service,  the  contention  I  am  persuaded  Avould  be,  not  Avho 
should  continue  in  the  field,  but  who  should  return  to  private 
life. 

I  Avish  not  to  heighten  the  shades  of  the  picture  so  far  as 
the  reality  Avould  justify  me  in  doing  it.  I  could  give  anec- 
dotes of  patriotism  and  distress  which  have  scarcely  ever  been 
paralleled,  never  surpassed,  in  the  history  of  mankind.  But 
you  may  rely  upon  it  the  patience  and  long  suffering  of  this 
army  are  almost  exhausted,  and  that  there  never  Avas  so  great 
a  spirit  of  discontent  as  at  this  instant.  While  in  the  field  I 
think  it  may  be  kept  from  breaking  out  into  acts  of  outrage, 
but  when  we  retire  into  winter  quarters,  unless  the  storm  is 
previously  dissipated,  I  can  not  be  at  ease  respecting  the  con- 
sequences.    It  is  high  time  for  a  peace. 

To  you,  my  dear  sir,  I  need  not  be  more  particular  in  de- 
scribing my  anxiety  and  the  grounds  of  it.  You  are  too  Avell 
acquainted,  from  your  OAvn  service,  Avith  the  real  sufferings  of 
the  army  to  require  a  longer  detail.  I  Avill  therefore  only  add 
that,  exclusive  of  the  common  hardships  of  a  military  life, 
our  troops  have  been  and  still  are  obliged  to  perform  more 
services  foreign  to  their  proper  duty,  without  gratuity  or  re- 
Avard,  than  the  soldiers  of  any  other  army.  For  example,  the 
immense  labor  expended  in  doing  the  duty  of  the  artificers  in 
erecting  fortifications  and  military  Avorks ;  the  fatigue  of 
building  for  themselves  barracks  or  huts  annually,  and  of  cut- 
ting and  transporting  Avood  for  the  use  of  all  our  forts  and 
garrisons,  Avithout  any  expense  Avhatever  to  the  public. 

Of  this  letter,  Avhich,  from  the  tenor  of  it,  must  be  consid- 


152  Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler. 

ered  in  some  degree  of  a  private  nature,  you  may  make  such 
use  as  you  shall  think  proper,  since  the  principal  objects  of  it 
are,  by  displaying  the  merits,  the  hardships,  the  disposition, 
and  critical  state  of  the  army,  to  give  information  that  may 
eventually  be  useful,  and  to  convince  you  with  ■what  entire 
confidence  and  esteem  I  am,  dear  sir,  etc.  {Sparks,  vol.  8, 
p.  353.) 

This  earnest  appeal  of  the  Commander-in-chief,  on  behalf 
of  the  army,  was  soon  followed  by  the  following,  coming  di- 
rectly from  the  army  to  Congress : 

To  THE  United  States  in  Congress  Assembled. 
The  address  and  petition  of  the  officers  of  the  army  of  the  United 

States,  humbly  sheweth : 

That  Ave,  the  officers  of  the  army  of  the  United  States,  in 
behalf  of  ourselves  and  our  brethren  the  soldiers,  beg  leave, 
with  all  proper  deference  and  respect,  freely  to  state  to  Con- 
gress, the  supreme  poAver  of  the  United  States,  the  great  dis- 
tress under  which  Ave  labor.  At  this  period  of  the  Avar  it  is 
Avith  peculiar  pain  Ave  find  ourselves  constrained  to  address 
your  august  body  on  matters  of  a  pecuniary  nature.  We 
have  struggled  Avith  our  difficulties  year  after  year,  and  hoped 
that  each  Avould  be  the  last,  but  we  have  been   disappointed. 

We  find  our  embarrassments  thicken  so  fast,  and  have  be- 
come so  complex,  that  many  of  us  are  unable  to  go  further. 
In  this  exigence  we  apply  to  Congress  for  relief,  as  our  head 
and  sovereign.  To  prove  that  our  hardships  are  exceedingly 
disproportionate  to  any  other  citizens  of  America,  let  a  recur- 
rence be  had  to  paymasters'  accounts  for  four  years  past.  If 
to  this  it  should  be  objected  that  the  several  states  have  made 
settlements  and  given  securities  for  the  pay  due  for  part  of 
that  time,  let  the  present  value  of  their  nominal  obligations 
be  ascertained  by  the  moneyed  men,  and  they  Avill  be  found  to 
be  worth  but  little  indeed  ;  and  yet,  trifling  as  they  are,  many 
have  been  under  the  sad  necessity  of  parting  with  them  to 
prevent  their  families  from  starving. 

We  complain  that  shadoAvs  have  been  offered  to  us,  Avhile 
the  substance  has  been  gleaned  by  others.  Our  situation  com- 
pels us  to  search  for  the  cause  of  our  extreme  poverty.     The 


to 


Life  of  Rev.  Blanasseh  Cutler.  153 

citizens  murmur  at  the  greatness  of  the  taxes,  and  are  as- 
tonished that  no  part  reaches  the  army.  The  numerous  de- 
mands that  are  between  the  first  collections  and  the  soldiers 
swallow  up  the  whole. 

Our  distresses  are  now  brought  to  a  point.  We  have  borne 
all  that  men  can  bear ;  our  property  is  expended,  our  private 
resources  are  at  an  end,  and  our  friends  are  wearied  out  and 
disgusted  with  our  incessant  applications.  We  therefore  most 
seriously  and  earnestly  beg  that  a  supply  of  money  may  be 
forwarded  to  the  army  as  soon  as  possible.  The  uneasiness  of 
the  soldiers,  for  want  of  pay,  is  great  and  dangerous ;  any 
further  experiments  on  their  patience  may  have  fatal  effects. 
The  promised  subsistences,  or  ration  of  provisions,  consisted 
of  certain  articles  specified  in  kind  and  quantity.  The  ration, 
without  regard,  that  we  can  conceive,  to  the  health  of  the  troops, 
has  been  frequently  altered,  as  necessity  or  convenience  sug- 
gested, generally  losing  by  the  change  some  part  of  the  sub- 
stance. On  an  average,  not  more  than  seven  or  eight-tenths 
pound  have  been  issued ;  the  retained  parts  Avere  for  a  short 
time  paid  for,  but  the  business  became  troublesome  to  those 
who  were  to  execute  it. 

For  this,  or  some  other  reasons,  all  regard  to  the  dues  of 
the  soldiers  have  been  discontinued  (now  and  then  a  trifling 
gratuity  excepted).  As  those  dues  respected  the  officers,  they 
were  compensated  during  one  year  and  part  of  another  by  an 
extra  ration.  As  to  the  retained  rations,  the  account  for  sev- 
eral years  remains  unsettled.  There  is  a  large  balance  due 
on  it,  and  considerable  sum  for  forage.  The  clothing  Avas 
another  part  of  the  soldiers'  hire.  The  arrearages  on  that 
score  for  the  year  1777  were  paid  oflF  in  Continental  money, 
when  the  dollar  was  Avorth  about  four  pence  ;  the  arrearages 
for  the  folloAving  years  are  unliquidated,  and  we  apprehend 
scarcely  thought  of  by  the  army.  Whenever  there  has  been 
a  real  want  of  means,  any  defect  in  system,  or  neglect  in  exe- 
cution in  the  departments  of  the  army,  we  have  invariably 
been  the  suff"erers,  by  hunger  and  nakedness,  and  by  languish- 
ing in  the  hospital.  We  beg  leave  to  urge  an  adjustment  of 
all  dues ;  that  as  great  part  as  possible  be  paid,  and  the  re- 
mainder put  on  such  footing  as  will  return  cheerfulness  to  the 


154  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

army,  revive  confidence  in  the  justice  and  generosity  of  its 
constituents,  and  contribute  to  the  very  desirable  effort  of  re- 
establishing public  credit. 

To  the  representation  noAV  made  the  army  have  no  doubt 
that  Congress  will  pay  all  that  attention  which  the  serious  na- 
ture of  it  requires. 

They  therefore  entreat  that  Congress,  to  convince  the  army 
and  the  world  that  the  Independence  of  America  shall  not  be 
placed  on  the  ruin  of  any  particular  class  of  her  citizens,  will 
point  out  a  mode  for  immediate  redress. 

H.  Knox,  Major-General. 

John  Pattekson,  Brigadier-General. 

J.  Greaton,  Colonel. 

John  Cram,  Colonel. 

H.  Maxwell,  Lt.-Col. 

J.  Huntington,  Brig.-Gen'l, 

H.  Swift,  Colonel, 

Sam'l  H.  Webb, 

Eben  Huntington,  Lt.-Col., 

On  part  of  Connecticut  line. 
P.  CoRTLANDT,  Colonel, 

On  part  of  N.  York  line. 
John  Cummings,  Lt.-Col., 

On  part  of  N.  Jersey  line. 
William  Scott,  Major, 

On  part  of  N.  Hampshire  line. 
W.  Eustis,  Hospital  Surgeon, 

On  part  of  Gen  I  Hosp'l. 
Moses  Hazen,  Brigadier-General. 
Cantonments,  Hudson  River,  December,  1782. 

\Journals  of  Cong.,  vol.  4,  p.  206. 

To  show  the  close  connection  between  the  distressed  condi- 
tion of  the  array  at  that  particular  crisis,  as  so  fully  presented 
in  the  foregoing  oflBcial  statements,  and  the  "  Ohio  scheme," 
it  is  only  necessary  to  summon  the  testimony  of  one  of  Ohio's 
most  honored  pioneers,  who  was  intimately  acquainted  with 
all  the  facts. 

Judge  Burnet,  in  his  notes  on  the  western  territory,  states 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  155 

the  case  as  follows :  "  The  early  adventurers  of  the  North- 
western Territory  were  generally  men  who  had  spent  the 
prime  of  their  lives  in  the  war  of  Independence.  Many  of 
them  had  exhausted  their  fortunes  in  maintaining  the  desper- 
ate struggle,  and  retired  to  the  wilderness  to  conceal  their 
poverty  and  avoid  comparisons  mortifying  to  their  pride  while 
struggling  to  maintain  their  families  and  improve  their  con- 
dition." 

Nothing  can  better  establish  the  fact  that  the  officers  of  the 
Revolution  were  illy  compensated  for  their  services  and  suffer- 
ings in  the  long  and  distressing  struggle  for  national  liberty 
than  the  destitute,  dependent  condition  in  which  they  found 
themselves  at  the  close  of  the  war.  After  having  spent  the 
most  valuable  period  of  their  lives  in  the  army,  enduring 
every  species  of  exposure,  fatigue,  and  suffering,  they  were 
dismissed  and  sent  to  their  homes,  if  they  Avere  so  fortunate 
as  to  have  any,  with  nothing  but  empty  promises,  which  have 
never  been  realized,  and  most  of  them  with  broken  or  impaired 
constitutions. 

The  certificates  they  received  as  evidence  of  the  sum  due 
them  from  the  country  were  almost  valueless.  They  were  even 
bought  and  sold  in  the  market  at  two  shillings  and  sixpence 
for  twenty  shillings,  and  so  late  as  1788  they  were  worth  only 
five  shillings  in  the  pound,  at  which  ruinous  rate  these  merito- 
rious men  were  driven  by  necessity  to  sell  them  or  starve. 
These  circumstances  are  here  introduced  chiefly  to  account 
for  the  fact  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  early  adventurers 
to  the  western  wilderness  had  been  officers  and  soldiers  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  They  were  honorable,  high-minded  men, 
whose  feelings  rebelled  at  the  thought  of  living  in  poverty 
among  people  of  comparative  wealth,  for  the  protection  of 
which  their  own  poverty  had  been  incurred.  Under  the  influ- 
ence of  that  noble  feeling,  hundreds  of  these  brave  men  left 
their  friends  and  sought  retirement  on  the  frontier,  where  no 
invidious  comparisons  could  be  drawn  between  wealth  and 
poverty ;  and  when  they  became  involved  in  the  hazardous 
conflicts  of  another  war,  Judge  Burnet  also  says  that  three- 
fourths  of  the  persons  who  formed  the  Miami  Company  and 


156  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

advanced   the   first  installment    of    the    purchase-money  had 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  following  are  the  propositions  referred  to  by  Colonel 
Pickering  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon : 

PROPOSITIONS  FOR  SETTLING  A  NEW  STATE  BY  SUCH  OFFICERS 
AND  SOLDIERS  OF  THE  FEDERAL  ARMY  AS  SHALL  ASSOCIATE 
FOR    THAT    PURPOSE. 

1.  That  the  United  States  purchase  of  the  natives  that  tract 
of  country  which  is  bounded  by  Pennsylvania  on  the  east,  the 
River  Ohio  on  the  south,  a  meridian  line  drawn  thirty  miles 
west  of  the  mouth  of  the  River  Scioto  on  the  west — this  me- 
ridian to  run  from  the  Ohio  to  the  Miami  River,  which  runs  into 
Lake  Erie — and  by  this  river  and  Lake  Erie  on  the  north. 

2.  That,  in  the  first  instance,  lands  be  assigned  to  the  army 
to  fulfill  the  engagements  of  the  United  States  by  the  resolu- 
tions of  the  16th  of  September,  1776,  August  13th  and  Sep- 
tember 30th,  1780,  to  wit: 

To  a  major-general 1,100  acres. 

To  a  brigadier-general 850  " 

To  a  colonel 500  " 

To  a  lieutenant-colonel 450  " 

To  a  major 400  " 

To  a  captain 300  " 

To  a  lieutenant 200  " 

To  an  ensign  or  cornet 150  " 

To  a  non-commissioned  officer  and  soldier 100  " 

To  the  director  of  the  military  hospitals  850  " 

To  chief  physician  and  purveyor,  each 500  " 

To  physicians,  surgeons,  and  apothecary,  each 450  " 

To  regimental  surgeons  and  assistants  to  the  sur- 
veyor and  apothecary,  each.. 400  " 

To  hospital  and  regimental  surgeons'  mates,  each..  300  " 

3>  That  all  associators  who  shall  actually  settle  in  the  new 
state  within  one  year  after  the  purchase  shall  be  eifected,  and 
notice  given  by  Congress  or  the  committee  of  the  associators 
that  the  same  is  ready  for  settlement  (such  notice  to  be  pub- 
lished in  the  newspapers  of  all  the  United  States),  shall  receive 
such  additional  quantities  of  land  as  to  make  their  respective 


Life  of  Rev.  dianasseh  Cutler.  157 

rio-lits  in  the  Avhole  to  contain  th^^  followinor  number  of  acres, 


to  wit 


"I 


A  major-general 2,400  acres. 

A  brigadier-general 2,200      " 

A  colonel 2,000       '- 

A  lieutenant-colonel 1,800       " 

A  major ...,. 1,(300       " 

A  captain 1,400       " 

A  lieutenant 1,200       " 

An  ensign  or  cornet 1,000       " 

A  sergeant 700       " 

Other  non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers,  each..    600       " 
And  fifty  acres  more  for  each  member  of  a  family  besides  the 
head  of  it. 

4.  That  the  rights  of  the  officers  in  the  medical  department 
be  increased  in  like  manner  on  the  same  condition. 

5.  That  all  officers  in  the  other  staff  departments,  who  shall 
actually  settle  in  the  new  State  within  the  time  above  limited, 
shall  receive  rights  of  land  in  the  proportions  last  stated,  on 
an  equitable  comparison  of  their  stations  with  the  ranks  of 
the  officers  of  the  line  and  the  medical  staff. 

6.  That  this  increased  provision  of  lands  shall  extend  to  all 
officers  of  the  line  and  staff,  and  to  all  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers and  soldiers,  who  during  the  present  war  have  performed 
in  the  whole  three  years'  service,  whether  in  service  or  not  at 
the  close  of  the  Avar,  provided  they  present  their  claims  and 
become  actual  settlers  in  the  new^  State  by  the  time  above 
limited. 

7.  These  surplus  rights  being  secured,  all  the  surplus  lands 
shall  be  the  common  property  of  the  State  and  disposed  of  for 
the  common  good  ;  as  for  laying  out  roads,  building  bridges, 
erecting  public  buildings,  establishing  schools  and  academies, 
defraying  the  expenses  of  government,  and  other  public  uses. 

8.  That  every  grantee  shall  have  a  house  built  and  

acres  of  land  cleared  on  his  right  within years,  or  the 

same  shall  be  forfeited  to  the  State. 

9.  That,  to  enable  the  associators  to  undertake  the  settle- 
ment of  the  new  State,  the  United  States  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  march  thither,  furnish  the  necessary  utensils  of  hus- 
bandry, and  such  live  stock  as  shall  be  indispensably  requisite 


158  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

for  commencing  the  settlement,  and  subsistence  for  three 
years,  to  wit,  one  ration  of  bread  and  meat  per  day  to  each 
man,  woman,  and  child  ;  and  to  every  soldier  a  suit  of  clothes 
annually  ;  the  cost  of  these  articles  to  be  charged  to  the  ac- 
counts of  arrearages  due  to  the  members  of  the  association 
respectively. 

10.  That,  for  the  security  of  the  State  against  Indians, 
every  officer  and  soldier  go  armed,  the  arms  to  be  furnished 
by  the  United  States  and  charged  to  the  accounts  of  arrear- 
ages.    Ammunition  to  be  suj^plied  in  the  same  way. 

11.  That  a  Constitution  for  the  new  State  be  formed  by  the 
members  of  the  association  previous  to  their  commencing  the 
settlement,  two-thirds  of  the  associators  present  at  a  meeting 
duly  notified  for  that  purpose  agreeing  therein.  The  total 
exclusion  of  slavery  from  the  State  to  form  an  essential  and 
irrevocable  part  of  the  Constitution. 

12.  That  the  associators,  so  assembled,  agree  on  such  gen- 
eral rules  as  they  shall  deem  necessary  for  the  prevention  and 
punishment  of  crimes,  and  the  preservation  of  peace  and  good 
order  in  the  State ;  to  have  the  force  of  laws  during  the  space 
of  two  years,  unless  an  Assembly  of  the  State,  formed  agree- 
ably to  the  Constitution,  shall  sooner  repeal  them. 

13.  That  the  State,  so  constituted,  shall  be  admitted  into 
the  confederacy  of  the  United  States,  and  entitled  to  all  the 
benefits  of  the  Union,  in  common  with  the  other  members 
thereof. 

14.  That,  at  the  above-mentioned  meeting  of  the  associa- 
tors, delegates  be  chosen  to  represent  them  in  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States,  to  take  their  seats  as  soon  as  the  new  State 
shall  be  erected. 

15.  That  the  associators,  having  borne  together  as  brethren 
the  dangers  and  calamities  of  war,  and  feeling  that  mutual 
friendship  which  long  acquaintance  and  common  sufferings 
give  rise  to,  it  being  also  the  obvious  dictate  of  humanity  to 
supply  the  wants  of  the  needy  and  alleviate  the  distresses  of 
the  afflicted,  it  shall  be  an  inviolable  rule  to  take  under  the 
immediate  patronage  of  the  State  the  wives  and  children  of 
such  associators  who,  having  settled  there,  shall  die,  or,  by 
cause  of  wounds  or  sickness,  be  rendered  unable  to  improve 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasiseh  Cutler.  159 

their  plantations,  or  follow  their  occupations,  during  the  first 
twenty-one  years;  so  that  such  destitute  and  distressed  fam- 
ilies shall  receive  such  public  aids,  as,  joined  Avith  their  own 
reasonable  exertions,  will  maintain  them  in  a  manner  suitable 
to  the  condition  of  the  heads  of  them ;  especially  that  the  chil- 
dren, when  grown  up,  may  be  on  a  footing  with  other  children 
whose  parents,  at  the  original  formation  of  the  State,  were  in 
similar  circumstances  with  those  of  the  former. 

To  HIS  Excellency,  the  President  and  Honorable  Dele- 
gates OF  THE  United  States  of  America,  in  Congress 
Assembled. 
The  Petitio7i  of  the  Subscribers,  Officers  in  the  Contiyiental  Line 
of  the  Army,  huynhly  shotoeth: 
That,  by  a  Resolution  of  the  Honorable  Congress,  passed 
September  20,1776,  and  other  subsequent  resolves,  the  officers 
(and  soldiers  engaged  for  the  War)  of  the  American  Army 
who   shall  continue  in  service  till  the  establishment  of  Peace, 
or,  in  case  of  their  dying  in  service,  their  heirs  are  entitled  to  re- 
ceive certain  Grants  of  Lands,  according  to  their  several  grades, 
to  be  procured  for  them  at  the  expense  of  the  United  States. 
That  your  petitioners  are   informed  that  that  tract  of  coun- 
try, bounded  north  on  Lake  Lrie,  east  on  Pennsylvania,  south- 
east  and  south  on  the  river  Ohio,  west  on  a  line  beginning  at 
that  part  of  the  Ohio  which  lies  twenty-four  miles  west  of  the 
river  Scioto,  thence  running  north  on  a  meridian  line  till  it  in- 
tersects with   the   river  Miami,  which  falls   into  Lake  Erie, 
thence  down   the  middle  of  that  river  to  the  lake,  is  a  tract  of 
country  not  claimed  as  the  property  of  or  in  the  jurisdiction 
of  any  particalar  state  in  the  Union. 

That  this  country  is  of  sufficient  extent,  the  land  of  such 
quality,  and  situation  such  as  may  induce  Congress  to  assign 
and  mark  it  out  as  a  Tract  or  Territory  suitable  to  form  a 
distinct  Government  (or  Colony  of  the  United  States)  in  time 
to  be  admitted  one  of  the  confederated  States  of  America. 

Wherefore  your  petitioners  pray  that,  whenever  the  Honora- 
ble Congress  shall  be  pleased  to  procure  the  aforesaid  Lands 
of  the  natives,  they  will  make  provision  for  the  location  and 
survey  of  the  lands  to  which  we  are  entitled  within  the  afore- 


160  Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler. 

said  District,  and  also  for  all  Officers  and  Soldiers  who  wish  to 
take  up  their  lands  in  that  quarter. 

That  provision  also  be  made  for  a  further  grant  of  lands,  to 
such  of  the  Army  as  wish  to  become  adventurers  in  the  new 
Government,  in  such  quantities  and  on  such  conditions  of  set- 
tlement and  purchase,  for  public  securities,  as  Congress  shall 
judge  most  for  the  interest  of  the  intended  government,  and 
rendering  it  of  lasting  consequence  to  the  American  Umpire. 

And  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray. 

(Signed.)  By  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight  officers  in  the 
continental  line  of  the  army. 

Jmie  16,  1783. 

John  Greaton,  Brig. -Gen.,  Mass. 

Elias  Dayton,  Brig. -Gen.,  Jersey. 

B.  Putnam,  Brig. -Gen.,  Mass. 

H.  Jackson,  Col.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

David  Cobb,  Lt.-CoL,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Samuel  Mellish,  Lt.,  3d  Reg.,  Mass. 

Benj.  Tupper,  Col.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Wm.  Hull,  Lt.-CoL,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Moses  Ashley,  ^Major,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Japlieth  Daniels,  Capt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Eben  Smith,  Capt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Benj.  Haywood,  Capt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Samuel  Frost,  Capt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

John  Holden,  Lt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Jos.  Miller,  Lt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Jos.  Balcom,  Lt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Jedr.  Rauson,  Ensign,  6th  Reg.,  Mass, 

Ebenr.  Ballentine,  Sur.  Mate,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

A.  Morrill,  Major,  N.  Hamp. 

Peter  Clayes,  Capt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Ephraim  Emery,  Lt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Josiah  Smith,  Lt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

A.  Tupper,  Lt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

J.  Wales,  Lt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Andrew  Garrett,  Lt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Elisha  Foster,  Ensign,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Asa  Graves,  Ensign,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 


Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler.  161 

Elisha  Horton,  Ensign,  6th  Reg.,  Mass, 
Jeremiah  Lord,  Ensign,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Sam'l  Leslie  Scammell,  Ensign,  6th  Reg,,  Mass. 
Nathan  Goodale,  Capt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass, 
James  B,  Finley,  Surgeon,  5th  Reg,,  Mass, 
Ralph  F,  Bowles,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Benj,  Pierce,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Joseph  Williams,  Capt.,  3d  Reg.,  Mass. 
Samuel  Whitwell,  Surgeon,  3d  Reg.,  Mass. 
Tertius  Taylor,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
John  K.  Smith,  Capt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Jesse  HoUister,  Capt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
John  Mills,  Capt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
John  Stark,  Brig. -Gen.,  N.  Hamp. 
Wm,  Scott,  Major,  N.  Hamp. 

Benj.  Tallmadge,  Major,  2d  Reg.  Lt.  Drag.,  Conn. 
Elijah  Wadsworth,  Capt,,  2d  Reg.  Lt.  Drag.,  Conn. 
Simeon  Jackson,  Capt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Aaron  Ogden,  Capt.,  Jersey. 
Samuel  Reading,  Major,  Jersey. 
Jonathan  Holmes,  Capt.,  Jersey. 
Cyrus  D.  Hart,  Capt.,  Jersey. 
Edmund  D.  Thomas,  Lt.,  Jersey. 
Abraham  Appleton,  Lt.,  Jersey. 
L.  Dalsey,  Lt.  and  Adjt.,  Jersey. 
John  Peck,  Lt.,  Jersey. 
Wm.  Shute,  Ensign,  Jersey. 
Samuel  M.  Shute,  Lt.,  Jersey. 
Jos.  Buck,  Lt.,  Jersey. 
Samuel  Hendry,  Capt.,  Jersey. 
Ben't  Osmun,  Lt.,  Jersey. 
Moses  Sproule,  Ensign,  Jersey. 
Jno.  Reed,  Lt.,  Jersey. 
Frank  Luce,  Ensign,  Jersey. 
Wessel  T.  Stout,  Lt.,  Jersey. 
John  Bishop,  Ensign,  Jersey. 
Wm.  Tuttle,  Ensign,  Jersey. 
George  Walker,  Lt.,  Jersey. 
11 


162  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Wm.  Kersey,  Lt.,  Jersey. 

John  Ruecastle,  Lt.,  Jersey. 

Ebenezer  Elmer,  Surgeon,  Jersey. 

Alexander  Mitchell,  Capt.,  Jersey. 

John  Blair,  Lt.  and  Pay  M.,  Jersey. 

Wm.  Helms,  Capt.,  Jersey. 

Samuel  Conn,  Lt.,  Jersey. 

Abner  Brooks,  Ensign,  Jersey. 

John  Holmes,  Capt.,  Jersey. 

Wm.  Piatt,  Capt.,  Jersey. 

Absalom  Bonham,  Lt.,  Jersey. 

Jacob  Hyer,  Ensign,  Jersey. 

Eph.  Whitlock,  Lt.  Adjt.,  Jersey. 

Rich'd  Cox,  Major,  Jersey. 

Thos.  Lansdale,  Major,  Maryland. 

Walker  Muse,  Capt.,  Maryland. 

Horatio  Clagett,  Capt.,  Marjdand. 

E.  Spurrier,  Capt,,  Maryland. 

Thos.  Bowie,  Lt.,  Maryland. 

Wm.  Bruce,  Capt.,  Maryland. 

John  Sears,  Lt.,  Maryland. 

Henry  H.  Chapman,  Ensign,  Maryland. 

Robt.  Halkerston,  Lt.,  Maryland. 

Ezekiel  Haynie,  Surgeon,  Maryland. 

Wm.  Watts,  S.  Mate,  Maryland. 

Walter  Dyer,  Lt.,  Maryland. 

Jno.  Hartshorn,  Lt.,  Maryland. 

Ivory  Holland,  Lt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Joseph  Smith,  Lt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Pelatiah  Everett,  Lt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Sylvenus  Smith,  Capt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Park  Holland,  Lt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass'. 

Samuel  Finley,  Surgeon,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 

J.  Farwell,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Archibald  Stark,  Lt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Joseph  Mills,  Lt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Caleb  Stark,  Lt.  A.  D.  Camp,  N.  Hamp. 

Ebenr.  Stockton,  Surgeon,  N.  Hamp. 

Jonathan  Perkins,  Lt.,  N.  Hamp. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  163 


Benj.  Ellis,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Josiah  Munro,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

J.  Boynton,  Lt.  and  Adj.,  N.  Hamp. 

Nathan  Weare,  Lt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Oliver  Baron,  Lt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Bezaleel  Howe,  Lt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Robt.  B.  Wilkins,  Lt.,  N.  Hamp. 

J.  Cille}^,  Lt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Daniel  Livermore,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

David  Allen,  S.  Mate,  N.  Hamp. 

Moody  Dustin,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Jere  Fogg,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

David  McGregore,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

W.  M.  Bell,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

John  Dennett,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Samuel  Cherry,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Lemuel  B.  Mason,  Lt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Joshua  Merrow,  Lt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Caleb  Robinson,  Major,  N.  Hamp. 

James  Carr,  Major,  N.  Hamp. 

Joseph  Potter,  Capt.,  N.  Hamp. 

Israel  Evans,  Chaplain,  N.  Hamp. 

Henry  Adams,  Surgeon,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Ezra  Newhall,  Lt.-Col.,  Mass. 

N.  Rice,  Major,  Mass. 

John  Blanchard,  Capt.,  Mass. 

Simeon  Larned,  Capt.,  Mass. 

Wm.  Moore,  Capt.,  Mass. 

D.  Holbrook,  Capt.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Joel  Pratt,  Lt.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

John  Davis,  Lt.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Oliver  Rice,  Lt.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Robert  Williams,  Lt.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Africa  Haralin,  Lt.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Wm.  Shepard,  Ens.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

R.  S.  Howe,  Ens.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Moses  Knap,  Major,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Joshua  Benson,  Capt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass, 

Samuel  Chapin,.Lt.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 


164  Life^  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

George  Reid,  Lt.-Col.,  Com'dt,  N.  Harap. 
Billy  Porter,  Major,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
T.  Turner,  Capt.,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Rufus  Lincoln,  Capt.,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
W.  Mills,  Capt.,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Z.  King,  Capt.,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Gam.  Bradford,  Lt.,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
•    Luke  Day,  Capt.,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Wm.  McKendry,  Lt.,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
James  Sawyer,  Ensign,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
George  Beale,  Lt.,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Isaac  G.  Graham,  S.  Mate,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Azariah  Eggleston,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Ephraim  Hunt,  Lt.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 
John  Williams,  Capt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Frederick  Frye,  Ensign,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Nath'l  Gushing,  Capt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Eben  Brown,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Benj.  Wells,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
C.  Marshall,  Capt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Ben.  Morgan,  S.  Mate,  1st.  Reg.,  Mass. 
Daniel  Lunt,  Capt.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Joseph  Fish,  Surgeon,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Adl.  Warner,  Lt.,  1st.  Reg.,  Mass. 
Benj.  Jones  Porter,  Sur.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Daniel  Shute,  Sur.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Elijah  Vose,  Lt.-Col.,  1st  Reg.,  Mass. 
Lem.  Trescott,  Major,  7th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Abraham  Williams,  Capt,,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 
Wm.  Torrey,  Lt.  and  Adj.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 
Hezekiah  Ripley,  Lt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 
Wm.  Taylor,  Lt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 
Silas  Morton,  Lt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 
Samuel  Myrrick,  Lt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 
Jacob  Leonard,  Ensign,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 
M.  G.  Houdin,  Capt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Joseph  Killam,  Capt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Wm.  Eysendeau,  Lt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 
Marlbry  Turner,  Lt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  165 

Nathan  Leavenworth,  S.  Mate,  8th  Reg.,  Mass. 

John  Hart,  Surgeon,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

Joshua  Danforth,  Lt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

John  Warren,  Lt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Alexander  Oliver,  Ens.,  5th.  Reg.,  Mass. 

Jonathan  Wing,  Ens.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 

John  Burnard,  Major,  5th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Benj.  Gilbert,  Lt.,  5th  Reg,,  Mass, 

Moses  Carleton,  Lt.,  5th  Reg,,  Mass. 

Zibeon  Hooker,  Lt.,  5th  Reg.,  Mass, 

Daniel  McCay,  Ens,,  5th  Reg,,  Mass, 

Jonathan  Felt,  Capt,,  5th  Reg,,  Mass. 

John  Yeomans,  Lt.,  4th  Reg,,  Mass, 

Isaac  Frye,  Capt,,  N,  Hamp, 

Asa  Sinter,  Capt,,  N,  Hamp. 

John  Paterson,  Brig, -Gen,,  Mass, 

J,  Brooks,  Lt,-Col.,  Com't,  7th  Reg,,  Mass. 

Caleb  Clap,  Capt.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Levi  Holden,  Capt.,  6th  Reg,,  Mass, 

J,  Huntington,  Brig. -Gen,,  Conn, 

Heman  Swift,  Col.,  2d  Reg,,  Conn. 

Jos.  A.  Wright,  Major,  3d  Reg.,  Conn, 

Eben  Gray,  Lt,-Col,,  3d  Reg,,  Conn, 

Lem'l  Clift,  Capt,,  1st  Reg.,  Conn, 

Nathan  Beers,  Lt,  and  P.  M,,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Eben'r  Frothingham,  Lt,  and  Q.  M.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

John  Rose,  Surgeon,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Joseph  Clark,  Ens.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Eneas  Munson,  S.  Mate,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Aaron  Keeler,  Ens.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

John  Hobart,  Lt,,  3d  Reg,,  Conn, 

Wm,  Linn,  Lt.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Stephen  Betts,  Capt,,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Roger  Wells,  Capt.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Abner  Cole,  Ens.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Daniel  Bradley,  Lt.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Jacques  Harmon,  Ens,,  3d,  Reg,,  Conn. 

Ezra  Selden,  Capt.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Samuel  Hait,  Lt.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn, 


166  Life  of  Rev.  3]anasseh  Cutler. 

Richard  Douglass,  Capt.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Joshua  Whitney,  Lt.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

John  Trowbridge,  Lt.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

George  Cotton,  Ens.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Hezekiah  Hubbard,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Joshua  Knapp,  Ens.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Eben  Wales,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Reuben  Sanderson,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Silas  Goodell,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

0.  Goodrich,  Ens.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Wm.  Higgins,  Lt.  and  Q.  M.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

John  Noyes,  Surgeon,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Pownall  Doming,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Wm.  Walmsley,  Ens.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

John  H.  Buell,  Capt.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Wm.  Judd,  Capt.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Charles  Miller,  Lt.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Libburt  Loomis,  Lt.  and  Adj.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Charles  Fanning,  Lt.  and  P.  M.,  Conn. 

Samuel  B.  Webb,  Col.,  3d  Reg.,  Conn. 

Daniel  M'Lane,  Lt.,  Artillery,  Mass. 

H.  Knox,  Maj.-Gen.,  Mass. 

John  Crane,  Col.,  Artillery,  Mass. 

Wm.  Perkins,  Major,  Artillery,  Mass. 

John  Liswell,  Lt.,  Artillery,  Mass. 

Charles  Knowles,  Capt.,  Artillery,  Mass. 

Florence  Crowley,  Lt.,  Artillery,  Mass. 

Nathaniel  Donnell,  Capt.,  Artillery,  Mass. 

James  Hall,  Capt.,  Lt.  Artillery,  Mass. 

Thomas  Vose,  Capt.,  Artillery,  Mass. 

Abijah  Hammond,  Lt.,  Lt.  Artillery,  Mass. 

Wm.  Moor,  Lt.,  Artillery,  Mass. 

John  Callender,  Capt.,  Lt.  Artillery,  Mass. 

Samuel  Cooper,  Lt.  and  Adj.,  Artillery,  Mass. 

John  Doughty,  Capt.,  Artillery,  N.  York. 

Eben  Huntington,  Lt.-Col.,  1st  Reg.,  Conn. 

Nath.  Holbrook,  Lt.,  Mass. 

Reuben  Lilley,  Lt.,  Mass. 

Eben  Sproat,  Lt.-Col.,  Com't,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler.  167 

Jacob  Town,  Lt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

Cornelius  Lyman,  Ens.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

R.  Bradford,  Capt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

Jotham  Ames,  Lt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

John  Hurd,  Ens.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

Robt.  Oliver,  Major,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

Robt.  Walker,  Capt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

J.  Hill,  Lt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

N.  Thaacher,  Lt.,  6th  Reg.,  Mass. 

John  Whiting,  Lt.,  2d  Reg.,  Mass. 

Hugh  Maxwell,  Lt.-Col.,  8th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Silas  Peirce,  Capt.,  8th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Thos,  Foster,  Lt.,  8th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Edward  White,  Lt.,  8th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Joseph  Crook,  Lt.,  6tli  Reg.,  Mass. 

Joseph  Leland,  Lt.,  8th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Wm.  Hildreth,  Lt.,  8th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Francis  Tufts,  Lt.  and  Adj.,  8th  Reg.,  Mass. 

James  Bancroft,  Lt.,  8th  Reg.,  Mass. 

Jeduthun  Baldwin,  Col.,  Engineers,  Mass. 

Edward  Phelon,  Lt.,  4th  Reg.,  Mass. 

David  Humphreys,  Lt.-CoL,  Conn. 

J.  Trumbull,  Lt.-CoL,  Sec.  to  the  Com.  in  Chief,  Conn. 

W.  Barber,  Major  and  Assit.  Ins.  N.  Army,  Jersey. 

W.  Colfax,  Capt.,  2d  Reg.,  Conn. 

New  Windsor,  IQth  June,  1783. 
Sir : — As  it  is  very  uncertain  how  long  it  may  be  before  the 
honorable  Congress  may  take  the  petition  of  the  officers  of  the 
army  for  lands  between  the  Ohio  River  and  Lake  Erie  into 
consideration,  or  be  in  a  situation  to  decide  thereon,  the  going 
to  Philadelphia  to  negotiate  the  business  with  any  of  its  mem- 
bers, or  committee  to  whom  the  petition  may  be  referred,  is  a 
measure  none  of  the  petitioners  will  think  of  undertaking. 
The  part  which  I  have  taken  in  promoting  the  petition  is  well 
known,  and  therefore  needs  no  apology,  when  I  inform  you  that 
the  signers  expect  that  I  will  pursue  measures  to  have  it  laid 
before  Congress.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  beg  leave  to 
put   the  petition  into   your  Excellency's  hands,  and  ask,  with 


168  Life  of  JRev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

the  greatest  assurance,  your  patronage  of  it.  That  Congress 
may  not  be  wholly  unacquainted  -with  the  motives  of  the  peti- 
tioners, I  beg  your  indulgence  while  I  make  a  few  observa- 
tions on  the  policy  and  propriety  of  granting  the  prayer  of 
it,  and  making  such  arrangements  of  garrisons  in  the  western 
quarter  as  shall  give  effectual  protection  to  the  settlers  and 
encourage  emigration  to  the  new  government,  which,  if  they 
meet  your  approbation,  and  the  favor  not  too  great,  I  must 
request  your  Excellency  will  give  them  your  support,  and 
cause  them  to  be  forwarded  with  the  petition  to  the  President 
of  Congress,  in  order  that  wdien  the  petition  is  taken  up.  Con- 
gress, or  their  committee,  may  be  informed  on  what  principles 
the  petition  is  grounded.  I  am,  sir,  among  those  Avho  con- 

sider the  cession  of  so  great  a  tract  of  territory  to  the  United 
States  in  the  western  world  as  a  very  happy  circumstance  and 
of  great  consequence  to  the  American  Empire.  Nor  have  I 
the  least  doubt  but  Congress  will  pay  an  early  attention 
to  securing  the  allegiance  of  the  natives,  as  well  as  provide 
for  the  defense  of  that  country,  in  case  of  a  war  with  Great 
Britain  or  Spain. 

One  great  means  of  securing  the  allegiance  of  the  natives, 
I  take  to  be,  the  furnishing  them  such  necessaries  as  they  shall 
stand  in  need  of,  and  in  exchange  receiving  their  furs  and 
skins.  They  are  become  so  accustomed  to  the  use  of  firearms, 
that  I  doubt  if  they  could  gain  a  subsistence  Avithout  them,  at 
least  they  will  be  very  sorry  to  be  reduced  to  the  disagreeable 
necessity  of  using  the  bow  and  arrow  as  the  only  means  for 
killing  their  game,  and  so  habituated  are  they  to  the  woolen 
blanket,  etc.,  that  an  absolute  necessity  alone  will  prevent 
their  making  use  of  them.  Tliis  consideration  alone  is,  I 
think,  to  prove  the  necessity  of  establishing  such  factories  as 
may  furnish  an  ample  supply  to  these  wretched  creatures ;  for 
unless  they  are  furnished  by  the  subjects  of  the  United  States, 
they  will  undoubtedly  seek  elsewhere,  and  like  all  other  people 
form  their  attachment  w'here  thev  have  their  commerce,  and 
then  in  case  of  a  war,  will  ahvays  be  certain  to  aid  our 
enemies. 

Therefore,  if  there  were  no  advantages  in  view  but  that  of 
attaching  them  to  our  interest,  I  think  good  policy  will  dictate 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler.  169 

the  measure  of  carrying  on  a  commerce  with  these  people  ; 
but  Avhen  we  add  to  this  the  consideration  of  the  profit  arising 
from  the  Indian  trade  in  general,  there  can  not,  I  presume,  be 
a  doubt  that  it  is  the  interest  of  the  United  States  to  make  as 
early  provision  for  the  encouragement  and  protection  of  it  as 
possible.  For  these  and  many  other  obvious  reasons.  Congress 
will,  no  doubt,  find  it  necessary  to  establish  garrisons  at  Os- 
wego, Niagara,  Detroit,  Michilimackinac,  Illinois,  and  many 
other  places  in  the  western  world. 

The  Illinois  and  all  the  posts  that  shall  be  established  on  the 
Mississippi  may  undoubtedly  be  furnished  by  way  of  the  Ohio 
with  provisions  at  all  times,  and  with  goods  whenever  a  war 
shall  interrupt  the  trade  with  New  Orleans.  But  in  case  of  a 
war  Avith  Great  Britain,  unless  a  communication  is  open  be- 
tween the  River  Ohio,  Lake  Erie,  Niagara,  Detroit,  and  all 
posts  seated  on  the  great  Lakes  will  inevitably  be  lost  without 
such  communication,  for  a  naval  superiority  on  Lake  Ontario, 
or  the  seizing  on  Niagara,  Avill  subject  the  whole  country  bor- 
dering on  the  lakes  to  the  will  of  the  enemy.  Such  a  misfor- 
tune will  put  it  out  of  the  poAver  of  the  United  States  to  fur- 
nish the  natives,  and  necessity  will  again  oblige  them  to  take 
an  active  part  against  us. 

Where  and  hoAv  this  communication  is  to  be  opened  shall 
next  be  considered.  If  Captain  Hutchins  and  a  number  of 
other  map  makers  are  not  out  in  their  calculations,  provisions 
may  be  sent  from  the  settlements  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Ohio  by  the  Muskingum  or  Scioto  to  Detroit,  or  even  to  Ni- 
agara at  a  less  expense  than  from  Albany  by  the  MohaAvk,  to 
those  places.  To  secure  such  communication  (by  the  Scioto, 
all  circumstances  considered,  Avill  be  the  best),  let  a  chain  of 
posts  be  established.  These  forts  should  be  built  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  if  the  ground  Avill  admit,  and  about  tAventy  miles 
distant  from  each  other,  and  on  this  plan  the  Scioto  communi- 
cation will  require  ten  or  eleven  stockaded  forts,  flanked  by 
block-houses,  and  one  company  of  men  will  be  a  sufiicient 
garrison  for  each,  except  the  one  at  the  portage,  Avhich  aa^II 
require  more  attention  in  the  construction  and  a  larger  num- 
ber of  men  to  garrison  it ;  but,  besides  supplying  the  garrisons 
of  the  great  lakes  with  provisions,  etc.,  Ave  ought  to  take  into 


170  Life  of  Rev.  Alcmasseh  Cutler. 

consideration  the  protection  that  such  an  arrangement  Avill 
give  to  the  frontiers  of  Virginia,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  York. 
I  say  New  York,  as  we  shall  undoubtedly  extend  our  settle- 
ments and  garrisons  from  the  Hudson  to  Oswego.  This  done, 
and  a  garrison  posted  at  Niagara,  whoever  will  inspect  the 
maps  must  be  convinced  that  all  the  Indians  living  on  the 
waters  of  the  Mohawk,  Oswego,  Susquehanna,  and  Alleghany 
Rivers,  and  in  all  the  country  south  of  the  Lakes  Ontario  and 
Erie,  will  be  encircled  in  such  a  manner  as  will  effectually  se- 
cure their  allegiance  and  keep  them  quiet,  or  oblige  them  to 
quit  their  country. 

Nor  will  such  an  arrangement  of  posts  from  the  Ohio  to 
Lake  Erie  be  any  additional  expense,  for  unless  this  gap  is 
shut,  notwithstanding  the  garrisons  on  the  Lakes  and  from 
Oswego  to  the  Hudson,  yet  the  frontier  settlers  on  the  Ohio 
by  Fort  Pitt  to  the  Susquehanna,  and  all  the  country  south  of 
the  Mohawk,  will  be  exposed  to  savage  insult,  unless  pro- 
tected by  a  chain  of  garrisons,  which  will  be  far  more  expen- 
sive than  the  arrangement  proposed,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
protection  given  to  these  states  will  be  much  less  complete ; 
besides,  Ave  should  not  confine  our  protection  to  the  present 
settlements,  but  carry  the  idea  of  extending  them  at  least  as 
far  as  the  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie. 

These  Lakes  form  such  a  natural  barrier  that,  Avhen  con- 
nected with  the  Hudson  and  Ohio  by  the  garrisons  proposed, 
settlements,  in  every  part  of  the  states  of  Ncay  York  and 
Pennsylvania,  may  be  made  with  the  utmost  safety,  so  that 
these  states  must  be  deeply  interested  in  the  measure,  as  well 
as  Virginia,  Avho  will,  by  the  same  arrangement,  have  a  great 
part  of  its  frontiers  secured  and  the  rest  much  strengthened ; 
nor  is  there  a  state  in  the  Union  but  Avill  be  greatly  benefited 
by  the  measure  considered  in  another  point  of  view,  for,  with- 
out any  expense  except  a  small  alloAvance  of  purchase-money 
to  the  natives,  the  United  States  Avill  have  Avithin  their  pro- 
tection 17,500,000  acres  of  very  fine  lands  to  dispose  of  as 
they  may  think  proper. 

But  I  hasten  to  mention  some  of  the  expectations  Avhich  the 
petitioners  have  respecting  the  conditions  on  Avhich  they  hope 
to   obtain   the  lands-^this  Avas  not  proper  to   mention  in  the 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  171 

body  of  the  petition,  especially  as  we  pray  for  grants  to  all 
members  of  the  army  who  wish  to  take  up  lands  in  that 
quarter. 

The  whole  tract  is  supposed  to  contain  about  17,418,240 
acres,  and  will  admit  of  756  townships  of  six  miles  square, 
allowing  to  each  township  3,040  acres  for  the  ministry,  schools, 
waste  lands,  rivers,  ponds,  and  highways  ;  then  each  township 
will  contain,  of  settlers'  lands,  20,000  acres,  and  in  the  Avhole, 
15,120,000  acres.  The  land  to  which  the  army  is  entitled  by 
the  resolves  of  Congress  referred  to  in  the  petition,  according 
to  my  estimate,  will  amount  to  2,100,850  acres,  which  is  about 
the  eighth  part  of  the  whole  ;  for  the  survey  of  this  they  ex- 
pect to  be  at  no  expense,  nor  do  they  expect  to  be  under  any 
obligation  to  settle  these  lands,  or  do  any  duty  to  secure  their 
title  to  them  ;  but,  in  order  to  induce  the  army  to  become  set- 
tlers in  the  new  government,  the  petitroners  hope  Congress 
will  make  a  further  grant  of  lands,  on  condition  of  settlement, 
and  have  no  doubt  but  that  honorable  body  will  be  as  liberal 
to  all  those  who  are  not  provided  for  by  their  own  states  as 
New  York  has  been  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  belong  to 
that  state,  nvhich,  if  they  do.  it  will  require  about  8,000,000 
of  acres  to  complete  the  army,  and  about  7,000,000  acres 
will  remain  for  sale.  That  the  petitioners,  at  least  some  of 
them,  are  much  opposed  to  the  monopoly  of  lands,  and  wish 
to  guard  against  large  patents  being  granted  to  individuals,  as 
in  their  opinion  such  a  mode  is  very  injurious  to  a  country, 
and  greatly  retards  its  settlement,  and  whenever  such  patents 
are  tenanted,  it  throw^s  too  much  power  into  the  hands  of  a 
few.  For  these  and  many  other  obvious  reasons,  the  petition- 
ers hope  no  grants  will  be  made  but  by  townships  of  six  miles 
square,  or  six  by  twelve,  or  six  by  eighteen  miles,  to  be  sub- 
divided by  the  proprietors  to  six  miles  square,  that  being  the 
standard  on  which  they  wish  all  calculations  may  be  made, 
and  that  officers  and  soldiers,  as  well  as  those  who  petition  for 
charters  on  purchase,  may  form  their  associations  on  one  uni- 
form principle,  as  to  number  of  persons  or  rights  to  be  con- 
tained in  a  township,  with  the  exception  only  that,  Avhen  the 
grant  is  made  for  reward  of  services  already  done,  or  on  con- 
dition of  settlement,  if  the  officers  petition  with  the  soldiers 


172  Life  of  Rev.  Ma7xasseh  Cutler. 

for  a  particular  township,  the  soldiers  shall  have  one  right  only 
to  a  captain's  three,  and  so  in  proportion  with  commissioned 
officers  of  every  grade. 

These,  sir,  are  the  principles  which  gave  rise  to  the  petition 
under  consideration ;  the  petitioners,  at  least  some  of  them, 
conceive  that  sound  policy  dictates  the  measure,  and  that  Con- 
gress ought  to  lose  no  time  in  establishing  some  such  chain  of 
posts  as  has  been  hinted  at,  and  in  procuring  the  tract  of 
country  petitioned  for  of  the  natives,  for  the  moment  this  is 
done,  and  agreeable  terms  offered  to  the  settlers,  many  of  the 
petitioners  are  determined,  not  only  to  become  adventurers, 
but  actually  to  remove  themselves  to  this  country  ;  and  there 
is  not  the  least  doubt  but  other  valuable  citizens  will  follow 
their  example,  and  the  probability  is  that  the  country  between 
Lake  Erie  and  Ohio  will  be  filled  with  inhabitants,  and  the 
faithful  subjects  of  these  United  States  so  established  on  the 
waters  of  the  Ohio  and  the  lakes  as  to  banish  forever  the  idea 
of  our  western  territory  falling  under  the  dominion  of  any 
European  power,  the  frontier  of  the  old  states  will  be  effectu- 
ally secured  from  savage  alarms,  and  the  new  will  have  little 
to  fear  from  their  insults. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  with  every  sentiment  of  respect, 

your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  very  humble  servant, 

(Signed,)         RuFUS  Putnam. 
Gen.  Washington. 

Headquarters,  Neavburgh,  June  17,  1783. 
Sir : — I  have  the  honor  of  transmitting  to  your  Excellency, 
for  the  consideration  of  Congress,  a  petition  from  a  large 
number  of  officers  of  the  army,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and 
such  other  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  continental  army  as  are 
entitled  to  rewards  in  lands,  and  may  choose  to  avail  them- 
selves of  any  privileges  and  grants  which  may  be  obtained  in 
consequence  of  the  present  solicitation.  I  inclose  also  the 
copy  of  a  letter  from  Brig. -General  Putnam,  in  which  the 
sentiments  and  expectations  of  the  petitioners  are  more  fully 
explained,  and  in  Avhich  the  ideas  of  occupying  the  posts  in  the 
western  country  Avill  be  found  to  correspond  very  nearly  with 
those  I  have  some  time  since  communicated  to  a  committee  of 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  173 

Congress,  in  treating  of  the  subject  of  a  peace  establishment. 
I  will  beg  leave  to  make  a  few  more  observations  on  the  gen- 
eral benefits  of  the  location  and  settlement  now  proposed,  and 
then  submit  the  justice  and  policy  of  the  measure  to  the  wis- 
dom of  Congress. 

Although  I  pretend  not  myself  to  determine  how  far  the 
district  of  unsettled  country,  which  is  described  in  the  peti- 
tion, is  free  from  the  claim  of  every  state,  or  how  far  this  dis- 
posal of  it  may  interfere  with  the  views  of  Congress,  yet  it 
appears  to  me  this  is  the  tract  which,  from  local  position  and 
peculiar  advantages,  ought  to  be  first  settled  in  preference  to 
any  other  whatever ;  and  I  am  perfectly  convinced  that  it  can 
not  be  so  advantageously  settled  by  any  other  class  of  men, 
as  by  disbanded  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  army,  to  whom  the 
faith  of  government  hath  long  since  been  pledged,  that  lands 
should  be  granted  at  the  expiration  of  the  war  in  certain  pro- 
portions, «agreeably  to  their  respective  grades. 

I  am  induced  to  give  my  sentiments  thus  freely  on  the  ad- 
vantages to  be  expected  from  this  plan  of  colonization,  because 
it  would  connect  our  governments  with  the  frontiers,  extend 
our  settlements  progressively,  and  plant  a  brave,  a  hardy,  and 
respectable  race  of  people  as  our  advanced  post,  who  would 
be  always  ready  and  willing  (in  case  of  hostility)  to  combat 
the  savages  and  check  their  incursions.  A  settlement  formed 
by  such  men  would  give  security  to  our  frontiers ;  the  very 
name  of  it  would  awe  the  Indians,  and  more  than  probably 
prevent  the  murder  of  many  innocent  families,  which  fre- 
quently, in  the  usual  mode  of  extending  our  settlements  and 
encroachments  on  the  hunting  grounds  of  the  natives,  fall  the 
hapless  victims  to  savage  barbarity.  Besides  the  emoluments 
which  might  be  derived  from  the  peltry  trade  at  our  factories, 
if  such  should  be  established,  the  appearance  of  so  formidable 
a  settlement  in  the  vicinity  of  their  towns  (to  say  nothing  of 
the  barrier  it  would  form  against  our  other  neighbors)  would 
be  the  most  likely  means  to  enable  us  to  purchase,  upon  equita- 
ble terms,  of  the  aborigines,  their  right  of  pre-occupancy,  and 
to  induce  them  to  relinquish  our  territories,  and  to  remove 
into  the  illimitable  regions  of  the  west. 

Much  more  might  be  said  of  the  public  utility  of  such  a  lo- 


174  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

cation,  as  well  as  of  the  private  felicity  it  would  afford  to  the 
individuals  concerned  in  it.  I  will  venture  to  say  it  is  the 
most  rational  and  practicable  scheme  which  can  be  adopted  by 
a  great  proportion  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  our  army, 
and  promises  them  more  happiness  than  they  can  expect  in 
any  other  way.  The  settlers  being  in  the  prime  of  life,  in- 
ured to  hardship,  and  taught  by  experience  to  accommodate 
themselves  in  every  situation,  going  in  a  considerable  body, 
and  under  the  patronage  of  government,  would  enjoy  in  the 
first  instance  advantages  in  procuring  subsistence,  and  all  the 
necessaries  for  a  comfortable  beginning,  superior  to  any  com- 
mon class  of  emigrants,  and  quite  unknown  to  those  who  have 
heretofore  extended  themselves  beyond  the  Appalachian 
Mountains.  They  may  expect,  after  a  little  perseverance, 
competence  and  independence  for  themselves,  a  pleasant  re- 
treat in  old  age,  and  the  fairest  prospects  for  their  children. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  consideration. 

Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  servant, 

(Signed,)  George  Washington. 

His  Excellency,  the  President  of  Congress. 

Rutland,  Ajyril  5,  1784. 

Dear  Sir: — Being  unavoidably  prevented  from  attending 
the  general  meeting  of  the  Cincinnati  at  Philadelphia,  as  I 
had  intended,  where  I  once  more  expected  the  opportunity  in 
person  of  paying  my  respects  to  your  Excellency,  I  can  not 
deny  myself  the  honor  of  addressing  you  by  letter,  to  acknowl- 
edge with  gratitude  the  ten  thousand  obligations  I  feel  myself 
under  to  your  goodness,  and  most  sincerely  to  congratulate 
you  on  your  return  to  domestic  happiness  ;  to  inquire  after 
your  health,  and  wish  the  best  of  Heaven's  blessings  may  at- 
tend you  and  your  dear  lady.  , 

The  settlement  of  the  Ohio  country,  sir,  engrosses  many 
of  my  thoughts,  and  mixch  of  my  time  since  I  left  the  camp 
has  been  employed  in  informing  myself  and  others  with  respect 
to  the  nature,  situation,  and  circumstances  of  that  country, 
and  practicability  of  removing  ourselves  there ;  and  if  I  am  to 
form  an  opinion  on  what  I  have  seen  and  heard  on  the  subject, 
there  are  thousands  in  this  quarter  who  will  emigrate  to  that 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  175 

country  as  soon  as  the  honorable  Congress  make  provisions 
for  granting  lands  there,  and  locations  and  settlements  can  be 
made  Avith  safety,  unless  such  provision  is  too  long  delayed — 
I  mean,  till  necessity  turn  their  views  another  way,  which  is 
the  case  with  some  already,  and  must  soon  be  the  case  Avith 
many  more.  You  are  sensible  of  the  necessity,  as  well  as  the 
possibility,  of  both  officers  and  soldiers  fixing  themselves  in 
business  somewhere  as  soon  as  possible,  as  many  of  them  are 
unable  to  lie  long  on  their  oars,  waiting  the  decision  of  Con- 
gress on  our  petition,  and  therefore  must  unavoidably  feettle 
themselves  in  some  other  quarter,  which,  when  done,  the  idea 
of  removing  to  the  Ohio  country  will  probably  be  at  an  end 
with  respect  to  most  of  them  ;  besides,  the  commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts  have  come  to  a  resolution  to  sell  their  eastern 
country  for  public  securities  ;  and  should  their  plan  be  formed 
and  propositions  be  made  public  before  we  hear  any  thing 
from  Congress  respecting  our  petition,  and  the  terms  on  which 
the  land  petitioned  for  are  to  be  obtained,  it  will  undoubtedly 
be  much  against  us,  by  greatly  lessening  the  number  of  Ohio 
associates. 

Another  reason  why  we  wish  to  know  as  soon  as  possible 
what  the  intentions  of  Congress  are  respecting  our  petition,  is 
the  effect  such  knowledge  will  probably  have  on  the  credit  of 
the  certificates  we  have  received  on  settlement  of  accounts. 
Those  securities  are  now  selling  at  no  more  than  three  shillings 
and  six  pence  or  four  shillings  on  the  pound,  which  in  all  prob- 
ability might  double,  if  no  more,  the  moment  it  Avas  known 
that  government  would  receive  them  for  lands  in  the  Ohio 
country.  From  these  circumstances  and  many  others  Avhich 
might  be  mentioned,  we  are  growing  quite  impatient ;  and  the 
general  inquiry  now  is,  Avhen  are  Ave  going  to  the  Ohio? 
Among  others.  Brig. -Gen.  Tupper,  Lt.-Col.  Oliver,  and  Maj. 
Ashley  have  agreed  to  accompany  me  to  that  country  the  mo- 
ment the  Avay  is  opened  for  such  an  undertaking.  I  should 
have  hinted  these  things  to  some  member  of  Congress,  but  the 
delegates  from  Massachusetts,  though  exceeding  worthy  men, 
and  in  general  would  wish  to  promote  the  Ohio  scheme,  yet,  if 
it  should  militate  against  the  particular  interest  of  this  state, 
by  draining  her  of  inhabitants,  especially  Avhen  she  is  forming 


176  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

the  plan  of  selling  the  eastern  country,  I  thought  they  ■^^•oulcl 
not  be  very  warm  advocates  in  our  favor.  And  I  dare  not 
trust  myself  with  any  of  the  New  York  delegates  with  whom 
I  am  acquainted,  because  that  government  are  wisely  inviting 
the  eastern  people  to  settle  in  that  state  ;  and  as  to  the  dele- 
gates of  other  states,  I  have  no  acquaintance  with  any  of 
them. 

These  circumstances  must  apologize  for  my  troubling  you 
on  this  subject,  and  requesting  the  favor  of  a  line  to  inform 
us  in'  this  quarter  what  the  prospects  are  Avith  respect  to  our 
petition,  and  what  measures  have  or  are  likely  to  be  taken 
with  respect  to  settling  the  Ohio  country. 

I  shall  take  it  as  a  very  particular  favor,  sir,  if  you  will  be 
kind  enough  to  recommend  me  to  some  character  in  Congress, 
acquainted  with  and  attached  to  the  Ohio  cause,  with  whom  I 
may  presume  to  open  a  correspondence. 

I  am,  sir,  Avith  the  highest  respect. 

Your  humble  servant, 

Gex.  Washington.  Rufus  Putnam. 

Mount  A^ernon,  June  2,  1784. 

Dear  Sir: — I  could  not  answer  your  favor  of  the  5th  of 
April,  from  Philadelphia,  because  General  Knox,  having  mis- 
laid, only  presented  the  letter  to  me  in  the  moment  of  my  de- 
parture from  that  place.  The  sentiments  of  esteem  and 
friendship  Avhich  breathe  in  it  are  exceedingly  pleasing  and 
flattering  to  me,  and  you  may  rest  assured  they  are  recip- 
1-ocal. 

I  wish  it  was  in  my  power  to  give  you  a  more  favorable  ac- 
count of  the  officers'  petition  for  lands  on  the  Ohio  and  its 
waters  than  I  am  about  to  do.  After  this  matter,  and  infor- 
mation respecting  the  establishment  for  peace,  were  my  in- 
quiries, as  I  went  through  Annapolis,  solely  directed,  but  I 
could  not  learn  that  any  thing  decisive  had  been  done  in 
either. 

On  the  latter,  I  hear  Congress  are  differing  about  their 
powers  ;  but,  as  they  have  accepted  of  the  cession  from  Vir- 
ginia, and  have  resolved  to  lay  off  ten  new  states,  bounded  by 
latitudes  and  longitudes,  it  should  be  supposed  that  they  would 


Life  of  llev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  177 

determine  something  respecting  the  former  before  they  ad- 
journ, and  yet  I  very  much  question  it,  as  the  hitter  is  to  hap- 
pen on  the  third,  that  is  to-morrow.  As  the  Congress  who 
are  to  meet  in  November  next,  by  the  adjournment,  will  be 
composed  of  an  entire  new  choice  of  delegates  in  each  state, 
it  is  not  in  my  power,  at  this  time,  to  direct  you  to  a  proper 
correspondent  in  that  body.  I  Avish  I  could,  for  persuaded  I 
am  that  to  some  such  cause  as  you  have  assigned  may  be 
ascribed  the  delay  the  petition  has  encountered  ;  for,  surely, 
if  justice  and  gratitude  to  the  army,  and  general  policy  of 
the  Union,  were  to  govern  in  this  case,  there  would  not  be  the 
smallest  interruption  in  granting  its  request.  I  really  feel 
for  those  gentlemen  who,  by  these  unaccountable  delays  (by 
any  other  means  than  those  you  have  suggested),  are  held 
in  such  an  awkward  and  disagreeable  state  of  suspense,  and 
wish  my  endeavors  could  remove  the  obstacles.  At  Prince- 
ton, before  Congress  left  that  place,  I  exerted  every  power  I 
was  master  of,  and  dwelt  upon  the  argument  you  have  used, 
to  show  the  propriety  of  a  speedy  decision.  Every  member 
with  whom  I  conversed  acquiesced  in  the  reasonableness  of 
the  petition.  All  yielded,  or  seemed  to  yield,  to  the  policy 
of  it,  but  pleaded  the  want  of  cession  of  the  land  to  act  upon ; 
this  has  been  made  and  accepted,  and  yet  matters,  as  far  as 
they  have  come  to  my  knowledge,  remain  in  statu  quo.  I  am 
endeavoring  to  do  something  with  the  lands  I  now  hold  and 
have  held  in  that  country  these  twelve  or  fourteen  years.  The 
inclosed  contains  the  terms  upon  which  I  propose  to  lease 
them.  If  you  think  the  j)romulgation  of  the  paper  inclosed 
can  be  of  service  to  myself,  it  is  optional  with  you  to  do  so. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  with  very  sincere  esteem  and  regard. 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

Gen.  R.  Putnam.  G.  Washington. 

12 


178  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 


CHAPTER   V. 

Extracts  froiv  Rkcords  of  Ohio  Company — Articles  op  Aoreemext — 
Letters  to  Major  Sargent  and  Nathax  Dane — Diaky,  1787. 

By  the  failure  of  Congress  to  act  upon  the  petition  of  the  offi- 
cers, their  scheme  was  delayed,  but  not  defeated.  The  urgent 
necessities  of  the  principal  movers  compelled  them  to  disperse, 
as  soon  as  the  army  was  disbanded,  and  seek  employment. 
Putnam  *  took  a  contract  to  survey  ten  townships  for  Massa- 
chusetts, in  her  province  of  Maine.     General  Tupper,f  another 

*  Rufus  Putnam  was  boi-n  in  Sutton,  Mass.,  1738.  Tie  served  in  the 
old  P'rench  War  in  four  campaigns,  1757  to  1761,  and  attained  the  rank 
of  Ensign.  After  the  war  he  studied  navigation  and  surveving,  and 
became  especially  proficient  as  a  civil  engineer.  He  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Brewer's  Regiment,  Chief 
Engineer  of  the  Army,  Colonel  of  the  5th  Massachusetts,  and  Brig- 
adier-fieneral.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  General  Court 
in  1787.  lie  became  interested  in  the  project  of  a  settlement  north- 
west of  the  Ohio  in  1783,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, was  appointed  its  Superintendent  in  1787,  and  led  the  first  party 
who  landed  at  Marietta,  7th  April,  1788.  He  was  one  of  the  Judges 
of  the  North-west  Territory,  1791)  to  1796;  Surveyor-General  of  the 
United  States,  1796  to  1803;  and  a  member  of  the  convention  which 
formed  the  first  Constitution  of  Ohio,  in  1802.  lie  died  in  Jlariitta, 
Ohio,  1S24. 

f  Benjamin  Tupper  was  born  in  Stoughton,  Mass.,  1738.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  old  French  War,  and  was  in  the  field  during  the  whole 
of  the  Revolutionary  War,  rising  from  the  rank  of  Major  to  Colonel 
and  Brevet  lirigadier-General.  In  1785  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Surveyors  of  the  North-west  Territory,  and  it  was  his  report,  alter  a 
visit  to  the  west,  that  led  to  the  call,  signed  by  himself  and  General 
Putnam,  for  the  meeting  which  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  Ohio 
Company.  In  the  summer  of  1786,  in  command  of  troops  under  Gen- 
eral Lincoln,  he  took  an  active  part  in  suppressing  Shay's  rebellion. 
Early  in  1788,  he  removed  to  Marietta,  with  his  family  and  that  of  his 
son-in-law,  lehabod  Nye,  reaching  there  19  August,  1788.  These  fam- 
ilies, and  those  of  Colonel  N.  Gushing  and  Major  Goodale,  who  accom- 
panied them,  were  the  first  families  to  settle  in  what  is  now  the  State 
of  Ohio.     General  Tupper  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  179 

of  the  signers  of  the  petition,  accepted  a  vacancy  made  by 
Putnam's  retirement  from  the  United  States  Surveyors  ap- 
pointed to  ruu  out  the  seven  Ranges.  But,  in  1786,  they 
met  again.  Putnam  could  say,  from  personal  observation,  of 
Maine :  "  That  country  in  general  is  not  fit  for  cultiva- 
tion, and  when  this  idea  is  connected  with  the  climate,  a  man 
ousrht  to  consider  himself  curst  even  in  this  world,  who  is 
doomed  to  inhabit  there  as  a  cultivator  of  the  lands  only." 

Tupper,  returning  from  a  visit  to  the  Ohio  in  1785,  could 
say  :  "  The  lands  in  that  quarter  are  of  a  much  bette-r  quality 
than  any  other  known  to  the  Ncav  England  people ;  the  cli- 
mate, seasons,  products,  etc.,  are  in  fact  equal  to  the  most 
flattering  accounts  that  have  been  published  of  them." 
•  With  this  addition  to  their  stock  of  knowledge  as  to  loca- 
tions, they  issued,  on  the  10th  day  of  January,.  1786,  a  paper, 
headed  ^^ Information,^''  calling  a  meeting  of  those  who  wished 
to  take  an  interest  in  the  "  Ohio  scheme  "  of  settlement.  This 
advertisement  was  as  follows  : 

y  INFORMATION. 

The  subscribers  take  this  method  to  inform  all  officers  and 
soldiers,  who  have  served  in  the  late  war,  and  who  are  by  a 
late  ordinance  of  the  honorable  Congress  to  receive  certain 
tracts  of  land  in  the  Ohio  country,  and  also  all  other  good 
citizens  who  wish  to  become  adventurers  in  that  delightful 
region,  that  from  personal  inspection,  together  with  other  in- 
contestible  evidences,  they  are  fully  satisfied  that  the  lands  in 
that  quarter  are  of  a  much  better  quality  than  any  other 
known  to  New  England  people  ;  that  the  climate,  seasons, 
product,  etc.,  are  in  fact  equal  to  the  most  flattering  accounts 
that  have  ever  been  published  of  them  ;  that  being  determined 
to  become  purchasers,  and  to  prosecute  a  settlement  in  this 
country,  and  desirious  of  forming  a  general  association  with 
those  who  entertain  the  same  ideas,  they  beg  leave  to  propose  the 
following  plan,  viz  :  That  an  association  by  the  name  of  The  Ohio 


in  iSeptember,  17S8,  and,  with  General  Putnam,  held  the  first  court  in 
the  North-west  Territoiy.  He  died  in  Marietta,  1792.  The  entry  in 
Dr.  Cutler's  journal,  August  15,  1788,  indicates  that  General  Tupper 
was  the  real  inventor  of  the  screw  propeller. 


180  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

Com'pany  be  formed  of  all  such  as  wish  to  become  purchasers, 
etc.,  in  that  country  who  reside  in  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts  only,  or  to  extend  to  the  inhabitants  of  other 
states  as  shall  be  agreed  on.  In  order  to  bring  such  a  com- 
pany into  existence  the  subscribers  propose  that  all  persons 
who  wish  to  promote  the  scheme  should  meet  in  their  re- 
spective counties  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.  on  Wednesday  the  loth 
day  of  Februai-y  next,, and  that  each  county  meeting  then  as- 
sembled choose  a  delegate  or  deleo-ates  to  meet  at  the  Bunch 
of  Grape's  Tavern,  in  Boston,  on  Wednesday  the  first  day  of 
March  next,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  then  and  there  to  consider 
and  determine  on  a  general  plan  of  association  for-said  com- 
pany ;  which  plan,  covenant,  or  agreement  being  published, 
any 'person  (under  condition  therein  to  be  provided)  may  by 
subscribing  his  \iame  become  a  member  of  the  company. 

RuFUS  Putnam, 
Rutland,  January  10,  178G.  Benjamin  Tuppek. 

In  consequence  of  this  notice  meetings  were  lield  in  the 
several  counties,  and  delegates  appointed,  who  convened  at 
the  Bunch  of  Grapes  Tavern,  in  Boston,  March  1,  1786. 
These  were  Winthrop  Sargent  and  John  Mills,  from  Suffolk 
County ;  Manasseh  Cutler,  from  Essex ;  John  Brooks  and 
Thomas  Cushing,  from  Middlesex ;  Benjamin  Tupper,  from 
Hampshire ;  Crocker  Sampson,  from  Plymouth ;  Rufus  Put- 
nam, from  Worcester;  John  Patterson  and  Jolnl^'--^  Wood- 
bridfje,  from  Berkshire  ;  and  x\braham  Williains,  from  Barn- 
stable. 

General  Rufus  Putnam  was  chairman  of  this  meeting  and 
Major  Winthrop  Sargent,  secretary.  It  appears  from  the  Rec- 
ords of  the  Ohio  Company  that :  From  the  very  pleasing  descrip- 
tion of  the  western  country  given  by  Generals  Putnam  and 
Tupper,  and  others,  it  appearing  expedient  to  form  a  settle- 
ment there,  a  motion  was  made  for  choosing  a  committee  to 
prepare  a  draft  of  a  plan  of  an  association  into  a  company 
for  the  said  purpose,  for  the  inspection  and  approbation  of 
this  convention.  Resolved  in  the  affirmative.  Also  resolved 
that  the  committee  consist  of  five.  General  Putnam,  Manasseh 
Cutler,  Colonel  Brooks,  Major  Sargent,  and  Captain  Cushing 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  181 

were  elected,  and  on  Friday,  March  3d,  the  committee   made 
the  following  report  to  the  convention  : 

Articles  of  Agreement  Entered  into  by  the  Subscribers 
FOR  Constituting  an  Association  by  the  Name  of  The 
Ohio  Company  : 

The  design  of  this  association  is  to  raise  a  fund  in  conti- 
nental certificates  for  the  sole  purpose  and  to  be  appropri- 
ated to  the  entire  use  of  purchasing  lands  in  the  western 
territory  belonging  to  the  United  States,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  company,  and  to  promote  a  settlement  in  that  country. 

Article  1.  That  the  fund  shall  not  exceed  one  million  of  dol- 
lars, in  continental  specie  certificates,  exclusive  of  one  year's 
interest  due  thereon  (except  as  hereafter  provided),  and  that 
each  share  or  subscription  shall  consist  of  one  thousand  dol- 
lars, as  aforesaid,  and  also  ten  dollars  in  gold  or  silver,  to  be 
paid  into  the  hands  of  such  agents  as  the  subscribers  may 
elect. 

Article  2.  That  the  Avhole  fund  of  certificates  raised  by 
this  association,  except  one  year's  interest  due  thereon,  men- 
tioned under  the  first  article,  shall  be  applied  to  the  purchase 
of  lands  in  some  one  of  the  proposed  states  north-westerly  of 
the  river  Ohio,  as  soon  as  those  lands  are  surveyed  and  ex- 
posed  for  sale  by  the  Commissioners  of  Congress,  according 
to  the  ordinance  of  that  honorable  body,  passed  the  20th  of 
May,  1785,  or  on  any  other  plan  that  may  be  adopted  by 
Congress,  not  less  advantageous  to  the  company.  The  one 
year's  interest  shall  be  applied  to  the  purpose  of  making  a 
settlement  in  the  country  and  assisting  those  who  may  be  other- 
wise unable  to  remove  themselves  thither.  The  gold  and  silver  is 
for  defraying  the  expenses  of  those  persons  employed  as  agents 
in  pvirchasing  the  lands,  and  other  contingent  charges  that 
may  arise  in  the  prosecution  of  the  business.  The  surplus, 
if  any,  to  be  appropriated  as  the  one  year's  interest  on  the 
certificates. 

Article  3.  That  there  shall  be  five  directors,  a  treasurer, 
and  secretary  appointed  in  the  manner  and  for  the  purposes 
hereafter  provided. 

Article  4.     That  the  prosecution  of  the  company's  designs 


182  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

may  be  the  least  expensive,  and  at  the  same  time  the  sub- 
scribers and  agents  as  secure  as  possible,  the  proprietors  of 
twenty  shares  shall  constitute  one  grand  division  of  the  com- 
pany ;  appoint  their  agent,  and  in  case  of  vacancy  by  death, 
resignation,  or  otherwise,  shall  fill  it  up  as  immediately  as 
can  be. 

Article  5.  That  the  agent  shall  make  himself  accovintable 
to  each  subscriber  for  certificates  and  moneys  received,  by 
duplicate  receipts,  one  of  which  shall  be  lodged -with  the  sec- 
retary ;  that  the  whole  shall  be  appropriated  according  to  these 
articles  of  association,  and  that  the  subscriber  shall  receive 
his  just  dividend,  according  to  quality  and  quantity  of  lands 
purchased,  as  near  as  possibly  may  be,  by  lot  drawn  in  per- 
son or  through  proxy,  and  that  deeds  of  conveyance  shall  be 
executed  to  individual  subscribers,  by  the  agent,  similar  to 
those  he  shall  receive  from  the  directors. 

Article  6.  That  no  person  shall  be  permitted  to  hold  more 
than  five  shares  in  the  company's  funds,  and  no  subscription 
for  less  than  a  full  share  will  be  admitted ;  but  this  is  not 
meant  to  prevent  those  who  can  not  or  choose  not  to  adventure 
a  full  share,  from  associating  among  themselves,  and  by  one  of 
their  number  subscribing  the  sum  required. 

Article  7.  That  the  directors  shall  have  the  sole  disposal  of 
the  Company's  fund  for  the  purposes  before  mentioned ;  that 
they  shall,  by  themselves,  or  such  person  or  persons  as  they 
may  think  proper  to  intrust  with  the  business,  purchase  lands 
for  the  benefit  of  the  company,  where,  and  in  such  way,  either 
at  public  or  private  sale,  as  they  shall  judge  will  be  most  ad- 
vantageous to  the  Company.  They  shall  also  direct  the  ap- 
plication of  the  one  year's  interest,  and  gold  and  silver, 
mentioned  in  the  first  article,  to  the  purposes  mentioned  under 
the  second  article,  in  such  way  and  manner  as  they  shall  think 
proper.  For  those  purposes,  the  directors  shall  draw  on  the 
treasurer,  from  time  to  time,  making  themselves  accountable 
for  the  application  of  the  moneys,  agreeably  to  this  asso- 
ciation. 

Article  8.  That  the  agents,  being  accountable  to  the  sub- 
scribers for  their  respective  divisions,  shall  appoint  the  direc- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  183 

tors,  treasurer,  and  secretary,  and   fill    up  all  the  vacancies 
which  may  happen  in  these  ofiices  respectively. 

Article  9.  That  the  agents  shall  pay  all  the  certificates  and 
moneys  received  from  subscribers  into  the  hands  of  the  treas- 
urer, who  shall  give  bonds  to  the  agents,  jointly  and  severally, 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  trust ;  and  also,  on  his  receiv- 
ing certificates  and  moneys  from  any  particular  agent,  shall 
make  himself  accountable  therefor,  according  to  the  condition 
of  his  bonds. 

Article  10.  That  the  directors  shall  give  bonds,  jointly  and 
severally,  to  each  of  the  agents,  conditioned  that  the  certifi- 
cates and  moneys  they  shall  draAV  out  of  the  treasury  shall  be 
applied  to  the  purposes  stipulated  in  these  articles  ;  and  that 
the  lands  purchased  for  the  Company  shall  be  divided  among 
them  within  three  months  from  the  completion  of  the  pur- 
chase, by  lot,  in  such  manner  as  the  agents,  or  a  majority  of 
them,  shall  agree ;  and  that,  on  such  division  being  made,  the 
directors  shall  execute  deeds  to  the  agents,  respectively,  for 
the  proportions  which  fall  to  their  divisions,  correspondent  to 
those  the  directors  may  receive  from  the  commissioners  of 
Congress. 

Article  11.  Provided,  That  whereas  a  sufficient  number  of 
subscribers  may  not  appear  to  raise  the  fund  to  the  sums  pro- 
posed in  the  first  article,  and  thereby  the  number  of  divisions 
may  not  be  completed,  it  is  therefore  agreed  that  the  agents  of 
divisions  of  twenty  shares  each  shall,  after  the  ITtli  day  of 
October  next,  proceed  in  the  same  manner  as  if  the  whole 
fund  proposed  had  been  raised. 

Article  12.  Provided,  also,  That  whereas  it  will  be  for  the 
common  interest  of  the  Company  to  obtain  an  ordinance  of 
incorporation  from  the  honorable  Congress,  or  an  act  of  in- 
corporation from  some  one  of  the  states  in  the  Union  (for 
which  the  directors  shall  make  application),  it  is  therefore 
agreed  that,  in  case  such  incorporation  is  obtained,  the  fund 
of  the  Company  (and,  consequently,  the  shares  and  divisions 
thereof)  may  be  extended  to  any  sum,  for  which  provision 
shall  be  made  in  said  ordinance  or  act  of  incorporation,  any 
thing  in  this  association  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

Article  13.     That  all  votes   under  this  association   may  be 


184  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianassch  CuUer. 

given  in  person,  or  by  proxy,  and  in  numbers  justly  propor- 
tionate to  tlie  stock  holden,  or  interest  represented. 

The  preceding  report  was  adopted  by  the  convention,  March 
3,  1786,  and_ subscription  books  were  soon  after  prepared  and 
circulated,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  : 

Articles  of  Agreement, 

We,  the  subscribers,  having  determined  to  settle  a  tract  of 
the  western  territory,  do  jointly  and  severally  agree  to  abide 
by  the  following  rules  and  regulations. 

Article  1.  That  at  the  next  meeting  there  shall  be  chosen 
a  standing  committee,  secretary,  treasurer,  and  such  other  of- 
ficers, for  conducting  the  Company's  affairs,  as  shall  be 
thought  proper. 

Article  2.  Every  proprietor  shall  punctually  attend  all 
meetings,  after  having  such  notice,  given  him  by  the  secretary, 
as  shall  at  all  times  by  the  Company  be  judged  sufiicient ;  and 
every  proprietor  Avho  shall  neglect  to  attend,  after  notice  as 
aforesaid,  shall  be  held  to  abide  by  all  regulations,  expenses, 
etc.,  agreed  on  at  said  meeting,  under  forfeiture  of  his  share 
of  land,  and  Avhatever  expenses  he  may  have  been  at. 

Article  3.  All  matters  respecting  the  affairs  of  the  Com- 
pany shall  be  determined  by  the  majority  of  the  proprietors 
present  at  any  regular  meeting. 

Article  4.  Several  persons,  good  judges  of  land,  shall  be 
appointed  by  the  Company,  to  go  under  their  direction  to  the 
western  territory,  for  the  purpose  of  pitching  upon  the  most 
eligible  spot  for  a  settlement,  and  shall  be  empowered  to  call 
on  Congress  upon  their  return,  and  agree  for  the  same,  if  they 
like  the  terms. 

Article  5.  That,  as  soon  as  convenient  after  their  return,  a 
meeting  be  called,  and  they  give  a  minute  account  of  their 
proceedings,  and  expenses,  and  that  all  expenses  necessarily 
incurred  be  defrayed  by  the  Company. 

Article  6.  A  certain  sum  (to  be  agreed  upon)  shall  be  paid 
to  the  treasurer,  to  enable  him  to  defray  such  necessary  ex- 
penses as  may  accrue,  which  sum  shall  be  in  proportion  to  the 
quantity  of  land"  subscribed  for   by  each   proprietor — no  ex- 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  185 

penses,  however,  to  be  disbursed  by  the  treasurer  but  by  the 
direction  of  the  Company  at  a  regular  meeting. 

Article  7.  Every  future  proprietor  shall  bear  his  proportion 
of  whatever  expenses  the  Company  shall  have  been  at,  at  the 
time  of  his  subscribing. 

Article  8.  A  draft  shall  be  taken  of  the  Company's  lands 
when  purchased,  in  which  the  most  suitable  spot  for  a  city 
shall  be  reserved. 

Article  9.  The  townships  shall  be  laid  out  in  lots  of  one,  two, 
and  three  hundred  acres,  and  no  lot  shall  contain  more  than 
three  hundred  nor  less  than  one  hundred  acres. 

Article  10.  The  city  shall  be  so  laid  out  that  each  proprietor 
may  hold  land  in  it,  in  proportion  to  what  he  holds  in  the 
country. 

Article  11.  Each  member  of  the  committee  shall  have  a 
subscription  paper,  and  as  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  shall 
have  subscribed  a  general  meeting  shall  be  called  for  the  pur- 
pose of  distributing  the  lands. 

Article  12.  The  distribution  to  be  made  in  the  following- 
manner,  (viz  :)  the  townships  to  be  named,  the  lots  in  the  city 
and  each  township  to  be  numbered ;  then  take  a  number  of 
papers  equal  to  the  number  of  one  hundred  acre  lots,  with  the 
name  of  the  township  on  one  side,  and  the  number  of  the  lot 
on  the  other ;  when  this  is  done  let  them  be  put  into  a  box, 
shaken  together  and  drawn  therefrom  by  each  subscriber  for 
an  hundred  acre  lot,  and  no  other ;  proceed  in  the  same  man- 
ner with  the  two  and  three  hundred  acre  lots,  each  subscriber 
drawing  from  the  box  containing  the  number  of  acres  he  sub- 
scribed for,  until  the  whole  be  finished. 

Article  13.  If  any  person  or  persons,  subscribers  for  an 
hundred  acre  lot  or  lots,  are  not  able  to  transport  their  efi"ects, 
etc.,  thither,  they  shall  on  application  to  the  company  (if  ap- 
proved of)  be  assisted. 

■  Article  14.  Each  proprietor  shall  put  on  a  settler  for  every 
three  hundred  acres  he  possesses,  within  a  certain  time  fixed 
on  by  the  company,  or  shall  forfeit  as  much  of  his  lands  as  is 
not  settled  in  the  above  manner. 

Article  15.     Officers  and  soldiers  who  shall   have  lands  due 


186  Lif&  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

to  them  from  Congress  shall  be  allowed  to  become  proprietors, 
they  complying  with  the  foregoing  articles. 

Article  16.  ■  That  foreigners,  who  are  persons  of  property, 
or  having  good  recommendations,  be  allowed  to  become  pro- 
prietors, they  complying  as  before  mentioned. 

Article  17.  Each  person  at  the  time  he  subscribes  shall  pay 
to  the  committee  six  shillings  for  every  hundred  acres  he 
subscribes  for,  in  order  to  forward  and  pay  the  expenses  of 
the  committee  mentioned  in  the  4th  article,  and  shall  at  a  time 
hereafter  to  be  fixed  on  by  the  company,  pay  such  further 
sums  as  shall  then  be  thought  necessary  (on  every  hundred 
acres  he  subscribes  for)  into  the  treasury  for  the  use  of  the 
company  to  be  expended  as  provided  in  the  6th  article,  and 
shall  pay  his  purchase-money  at  such  time  or  times  as  shall 
be  determined,  by  the  company,  or  forfeit  the  sums  he  may 
have  paid  for  the  use  of  the  company. 

Article  18.  All  lands  purchased  by  the  company  shall  be 
laid  out  into  such  lots  as  to  make  them  in  quality  or  quantity 
as  equal  in  value  as  possible. 

Article  19.  In  order  to  save  expense  in  conducting  the 
business  of  the  company,  subscribers  for  forty  shares  may 
form  themselves  into  a  division,  and  may  appoint  and  empower 
an  agent  to  transact  their  business  in  said  company,  whose  do- 
ings in  their  behalf  shall  be  valid. 

Article  20.  The  treasurer,  agents,  and  committees  shall  be 
accountable  to  the  company  for  the  moneys  they  shall  receive, 
and  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  trust,  in  all  respects,  in 
such  manner  as  shall  be  determined  by  the  company. 

[^Subscribers'  Nantes.'] 


"Boston,  March  4,  1786.  The  convention  resolved,  that 
Colonel  Hull,  Major  Sargent,  and  Captain  Mills  be  a  committee 
to  transact  the  necessary  business  of  The  Ohio  Company  un- 
til the  directors  are  chosen. 

They  are  to  open  a  correspondence  with  any  gentlemen 
whom  they  may  think  likely  to  encourage  the  company's  de- 
signs and  forward  the   completion   of  the  funds  proposed,  in 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  187 

such  a  way  and  manner  as  they  shall  judge  best  calculated  to 
effect  the  same. 

They  shall  notify^the  place  for  the  agents  to  meet,  for  the 
purpose  of  choosing  directors,  etc.,  on  the  7th  day  of  October 
next,  or  as  much  sooner  as  they  may  suppose  necessary  for  the 
interest  of  the  company. 

They  shall  also  hold  communications  and  receive  reports  as 
often  as  conveniently  can  be  from  those  gentlemen  collecting 
subscriptions." 

\_To  Major  Sargent.^'] 

Ipswich,  March  24,  1786. 

Sir: — I  had  the  honor  yesterday  of  receiving  your  favor  of 
the  11th  inst.,  inclosing  the  Articles  of  Association.  You 
have  much  obliged  me  by  this  communication.  I  shall  make 
every  exertion  in  my  power  to  obtain  subscriptions  as  soon  t^s 
I  receive  a  paper  for  that  purpose.  In  the  meantime,  shall 
embrace  every  opportunity  for  acquainting  such  persons  with 
the  Articles  and  quality  of  the  country  (as  far  as  I  have  ob- 
tained information)  as  are  disposed  to  favor  our  plan.  Not 
being  furnished  with  either  the  articles  or  a  plan  of  the  coun- 
try, have  delayed  making  much  inquiry  with  respect  to  sub- 
scribers, but  I  find  a  number,  and  some  of  them  of  consider- 
able property,  inclined  to  become  adventurers. 

Major  Porter,  of  Wenham,  will  join  us,  and  probably  afford 
much  assistance  in  obtaining  good  men  for  settling  the  coun- 


*  Major  Wiiithrop  Sargent  was  born  at  Gloucester,  Mass.,  May  1, 
1753;  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1771.  He  served  with  credit 
during  the  Revolutionary  War  as  captain  of  artillery,  and  on  staft  duty 
with  the  rank  of  major.  In  1786  he  surveyed  one  of  the  seven  I'anges 
in  the  North-west  Territory,  directed  by  Congress.  He  was  secretary 
of  the  Ohio  Company,  and  was  associated  with  Dr.  Cutlei'  in  the  pur- 
chase of  land  for  the  Company.  He  was  appointed  liy  (.'ongress  Secre- 
tary of  the  North-west  Territory  in  17H7,  and  removed  there  in  17b^8, 
and  February  6,  1789,  married  at  Marietta,  Rowena,  daughter  of  Gen- 
eral Benjamin  Tupper.  She  died  in  17U0,  leaving  no  children.  He 
served  as  adjutant-ijeneral  to  St.  Clair's  army  in  1791,  and  was  severely 
wounded.  He  was  also  adjutant-general  to  General  Wayne  in  1794. 
Major  Sargent,  having  received  the  appointment  of  Governor  of  Mis- 
sissippi Territory,  resigned  in  1798  his  office  as  Secreta-y  and  removed 
to  Natchez,  where  lie  mariied  a  second  wife;  and  died  while  on  a  vo}'- 
age  to  Philadelphia,  June  3,  1820. 


188  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

try.     He  is  frequently  in  Boston,  where  you  will  doubtless 
have  opportunity  for  conversing  with  him. 

The  Ohio  country  is  so  little  known  in  this  part  of  the 
Commonwealth,  that  the  people  greatly  need  information  with 
respect  to  its  situation  and  the  qualities  of  the  lands.  They 
are  constantly  emigrating  into  the  northern  frozen  deserts ; 
but  were  they  made  sensible  of  the  fertility  and  temperature 
of  the  climate  in  the  Ohio  country,  they  would  turn  their  faces 
to  the  southward.  Such  authentic  accounts  as  can  be  obtained 
and  published  from  time  to  time  in  the  newspapers,  I  am  per- 
suaded, would  be  useful,  particularly  extracts  from  Captain 
Hutchins'  pamphlet.  You  are  near  the  press,  and  can  furnish 
the  most  valuable  intelligence.  Hall's  and  Adams'  and  Nourse's 
papers  circulate  principally  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  either 
of  them,  I  doubt  not,  will  insert  whatever  you  may  request. 

It  appears  to  me,  our  first  object  must  be  to  try  the  success 
of  subscriptions,  which  will  very  much  depend  on  the  favor- 
able opinion  the  people  entertain  of  the  country.  Fear  of  the 
savages  and  the  distance  from  connections  seem  to  be  the  only 
objections  I  have  heard  any  person  make,  but  the  flattering 
prospects  so  fine  a  country  opens  to  their  view,  and  the  num- 
bers that  will  engage  in  the  first  settlements,  in  a  great  meas- 
ure obviate  them. 

Please  to  favor  me  with  a  subscription  paper  as  soon  as  may 
be.  I  wish  to  be  informed  what  the  prospects  are  in  other 
parts  of  the  Commonwealth.  I  shall  do  myself  the  pleasure 
of  informing  you  with  respect  to  this  county  by  every  oppor- 
tunity. 

Your  letter  did  not  arrive  seasonably  enough  for  me  to  have 
waited  on  you  while  at  Cape  Ann,  but  you  would  have  made 
me  vei-y  happy  if  you  had  made  my  house  in  your  way,  in 
going  or  returning.  Should  you  make  another  journey,  pray 
be  so  kind  as  to  call  upon  me.  It  Avill  be  very  little  out  of 
your  way,  and  will  confer  a  very  great  favor  on  him  who  has 
the  honor  to  be. 

With  every  sentiment  of  respect, 

Sir,  your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

M.  Cutler. 

P.    S. — I   have    this    moment   received    a   map    from    Mr. 


Lif»  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  189 

Williams,  and  shall  now  have  it  in  my  power  to  point  out  to 
inquirers  the  situation  of  the  country. 
Major  Sargent. 

\_To  3Iajor  Sargent. ~\ 

Ipswich,  April  20,  1786. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  favor  of  the  7th  instant  from  Gloucester 
should  have  received  an  earlier  answer,  but  a  multiplicity  of 
avocations  has  put  it  out  of  my  power.  I  much  regret  the 
failure  of  your  horse,  as  it  has  deprived  me  of  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  you  previous  to  your  tour  westward.  It  is  a  source  of 
pleasing  reflection  to  me  that  you  intend  to  see  the  country 
yourself,  for  from  your  own  observations  you  will  be  able  to 
furnish  the  adventurers  Avith  the  best  intelligence,  and  to  point 
out  the  most  proper  mode  for  carrying  on  the  first  settlement. 
The  time  has  been  so  short  since  I  received  the  necessary 
materials  for  giving  information  and  the  subscription  papers, 
that  I  can  hardly  form  a  tolerable  judgment  what  number  of 
subscriptions  I  shall  be  able  to  obtain.  Present  appearances 
are  very  promising.  Eight  or  ten  shares  are  subscribed  for 
and  engaged  already,  and  I  entertain  no  doubt  of  filling  up 
the  number  of  one  grand  division  in  a  short  time.  I  think  it 
is  not  extravagant  to  expect  that  I  shall  be  able  to  fill  up  two. 
One  of  the  subscription  pamphlets  you  sent  me  I  have  for- 
warded to  a  friend  in  New  Hampshire,  where,  I  am  told,  there 
are  a  number  determined  to  emigrate,  and  wish  for  informa- 
tion respecting  the  Ohio  country. 

The  present  prospects  for  obtaining  subscriptions  in  this 
part  of  the  country  so  much  exceed  my  most  sanguine  ex- 
pectations, that  I  think  we  ought  to  be  cautious  about  admit- 
ting adventurers  from  the  southward.  New  England  settlers 
will  certainly  be  the  best,  and  some  time  will  be  absolutely 
necessary  for  diffusing  information  of  the  plan  and  prospect, 
and  for  making  a  fair  experiment  of  the  success  of  subscrip- 
tions. The  people  wish  to  know  more  about  the  country,  and 
many  of  them  are  anxious  to  see  it.  Several  have  requested 
that  they  may  be  permitted  to  go  as  laborers,  if  the  company 
hire  men,  at  the  first  taking  possession.  Those  of  my  sub- 
scribers who  are  smart,  able  men,  I  have  told  shall  have  an 


190  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

equal  chance  with  other  proprietors,  and  have  ventured  to 
assure  them  that  none  will  be  admitted  to  go  as  such  but 
those  who  intend  to  settle  in  the  country. 

I  am  informed  there  are  two  or  three  other  petty  companies 
forming  with  views  of  carrying  on  settlements  in  the  western 
states.  I  have  been  able  to  get  but  little  information  about 
them.  Should  there  be  any  men  of  consequence  at  the  head 
of  them,  it  will,  I  apprehend,  be  good  policy  to  connect  them 
Avith  this  association.     This  I  shall  make  a  matter  of  inquiry. 

You  have  much  obliged  me  by  your  kind  offer  to  assist  me 
in  my  botanical  and  other  inquiries  in  the  several  branches  of 
natural  history.  Should  you  meet  with  any  thing  new  or 
curious,  either  in  the  fossil,  vegetable,  or  mineral  kingdoms,  I 
should  be  happy  to  receive  specimens  or  descriptions.  The 
blossoms  of  vegetables  with  two  or  three  leaves  are  the  parts 
of  vegetables  I  wish  most  to  see.  The  best  way  of  preserving 
them  is  to  open  the  blossom  and  press  it  between  two  pieces 
of  clean  paper,  taking  care  that  all  the  parts  within  the  blos- 
som be  preserved,  and  the  time  of  blooming  and  place  of 
growth  be  noted. 

The  more  I  contemplate  the  prospect  opened  by  this  asso- 
ciation, the  more  I  feel  myself  inclined  to  take  an  active  part 
in  carrying  on  the  settlement  and  to  be  one  of  the  first  emi- 
grants. An  early  attempt  to  cultivate  in  that  country  a  num- 
ber of  foreign  vegetable  productions  appears  to  me  a  matter 
of  consequence — among  others,  the  Indian  tea,  Japan  varnish 
tree,  and  European  grapes.  I  have  no  doubt  the  tea  seed — 
perhaps  plants,  too,  may  be  obtained  from  the  East  Indies  in 
a  vegetative  state.  And  I  think  much  attention  ought  to  be 
paid  in  forming  a  good  plan  for  locating  the  first  settlements. 
It  will  be  very  desirable  to  begin  the  settlement  next  spring, 
and  in  order  to  obtain  a  crop  of  grain  the  first  year,  they 
ought  to  be  on  the  ground  very  early  in  the  spring,  could 
the  lands  be  purchased  early  enough.  Should  think  it  much 
the  best  for  them  to  go  on  in  the  fall,  so  as  to  build  their  huts 
before  winter.  They  may  then  improve  every  opportunity 
during  the  winter  for  clearing  the  land,  so  as  to  sow  their 
grain  early  in  the  spring.  But  I  very  much  fear  that  matters 
will  not  be  right  for  beginning  a  settlement  next  summer. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  191 

Should  you  and  Captain  Mills  go  to  the  southward,  there 
will  be  most  certainly  occasion  for  a  temporary  supply  of  your 
places  in  the  Committee,  and  ought  to  be,  I  should  think, 
gentlemen  in  or  near  Boston,  who  can  with  convenience  hold 
frequent  meetings.  You  are  much  the  best  judge  who  will  be 
the  most  proper  for  such  an  appointment.  You  may  depend 
on  my  giving  frequent  accounts  to  the  Committee  at  Boston 
of  the  success  of  my  subscriptions.  Y^ou  will  do  me  a  par- 
ticular favor  by  writing  when  opportunities  present  while  you 
are  on  your  tour. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  greatest  respect, 

Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

•  M.  Cutler. 

P.  S. — If  you  should  meet  with  the  Comte  de  Castiglioni, 
who  is  making  the  tour  of  the  southern  states,  please  to  pre- 
sent him  my  most  respectful  compliments ;  also  the  compli- 
ments of  Dr.  Stokes,  of  Great  Britain,  from  whom  I  have 
lately  received  a  letter.  And  be  so  kind  as  to  inform  the 
Comte  that  I  have  a  collection  of  vegetable  specimens  for  him, 
and  will  convey  them  to  any  place  he  shall  desire,  together 
with  a  volume  of  the  Memoirs  of  the  American  Academy. 

Major  Winthrop  Sargent. 

"Boston,  8th  March,  1787.  Brackett's  Tavern.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Ohio  Company,  called  this  8th  day  of  March, 
1787,  by  special  advertisement,  it  appearing  that  two  hundred 
and  fifty  shares  in  the  Company's  funds  were  subscribed  for, 
and  that  there  are  at  this  time  in  the  commonwealths  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  and  New  Hampshire, 
many  inclined  to  become  adventurers  who  are  restrained  only 
by  the  uncertainty  of  obtaining  a  sufiicient  tract  of  country 
collectively  for  a  great  settlement. 

"  It  was  unanimously  Resolved,  that  three  Directors  should 
be  appointed  for  the  Company,  and  that  it  should  be  their 
duty,  immediately,  to  make  application  to  the  Honorable  Con- 
gress for  a  private  purchase  of  Lands,  and  under  such  de- 
scriptions as  they  shall  deem  adequate  to  the  purposes  of  the 
Company.     General  Samnel  H.  Parsons,  General  Rufus  Put- 


192  Life,  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler. 

nam,    and    the    Rev,    Manasseli    Cutler    were    unanimously 
chosen." 

Dr.  Cutler  was  confined  to  his  bed  by  sickness  March  5th 
to  10th,  and  did  not  attend  this  meeting.  Of  the  two  hundred 
and  fifty  shares  subscribed,  he  had  obtained  over  one  hundred. 
This  fact  probably  led  to  his  appointment  as  a  director. 

[To  Majo7'  Sargent.] 

Ipswich,  3Iarch  16,  1787. 

31]/  Dear  Sir : — Yours  of  the  12th  instant,  inclosing  the  re- 
solves of  the  Ohio  Company,  and  copy  of  General  Putnam's 
letter,  has  been  handed  me.  The  honor  conferred  by  the  suf- 
frages of  the  company  in  appointing  me  one  of  their  directors 
will  not  fail,  I  trust,  of  inducing  me  to  make  every  exertion 
in  my  power  for  carrying  into  immediate  execution  the  designs 
of  the  institution. 

I  entirely  approve  of  the  propositions  which  General  Put- 
nam proposes  should  be  made  to  Congress,  and  join  with  him 
in  requesting  General  Parsons  to  make  application  to  that 
honorable  body,  as  soon  as  possible.  I  have  the  fullest  con- 
fidence that  the  negotiations  will  be  conducted  by  him  in  a 
manner  the  most  advantageous  to  the  company. 

The  high  price  at  which  Congress  have  set  their  lands,  in 
their  land  ordinance,  I  have  found  to  operate  much  against 
subscriptions  for  the  company,  and  has  hitherto  prevented 
many  valuable  persons  from  becoming  adventurers.  The 
lands  of  this  state  being  sold  in  the  eastern  country  at  half 
a  dollar  per  acre,  and  the  distance  being  small  compared  with 
that  of  the  Ohio,  a  considerable  number  of  families  in  this  part 
of  the  Massachusetts  have  been  induced  to  make  purchases 
eastward,  who  would  have  preferred  going  to  the  Ohio,  had 
the  lands  been  set  at  the  same  price.  For  the  same  reason 
many  in  New  Hampshire  are  turning  their  attention  eastward. 
If  Congress  Avill  accede  to  cither  of  the  propositions  proposed 
by  General  Putnam  I  doul)t  not  our  company  would  be  im- 
mediately filled  with  valuable  adventurers,  and  a  large  pro- 
portion from  this  part  of  the  country  ;  for  the  spirit  of  emi- 
gration never  ran  higher  with  us,  and  the  Ohio  lands  are  held 
in  the  highest   estimation.     Could   the  lands   be   immediately 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  193 

purchased  on  either  of  the  propositions  made  by  General  Put- 
nam, I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  subscriptions  would  go  on 
rapidly  in  this  part  of  the  country.  A  large  number  of  very 
considerable  property  and  respectable  characters  have  assured 
me  that,  as  almost  every  kind  of  business  is  stagnated  here, 
they  would  become  adventurers  in  our  company,  and  imme- 
diately remove  on  to  the  lands,  provided  they  could  be  pur- 
chased on  terms  as  advantageous  as  those  sold  by  this  state. 
Many  others  are  under  the  necessity  of  migrating  from  our 
old  towns,  as  the  lands  are  all  under  improvements,  and  the 
inhabitants  so  multiplied,  as  to  be  unable  to  obtain  a  living 
from  them.  They  are  therefore  securing  purchases  as  fast  as 
possible.  It  is  of  the  greatest  consequence  to  the  company 
that  the  purchase  should  be  made  as  soon  as  possible,  and  a 
plan  concerted  for  settlers  to  go  upon  them.  It  is  much  to 
be  wished,  though  I  fear  it  is  impracticable,  that  some  settlers 
might  go  on  this  spring.  With  regard  to  the  place  of  location 
General  Parsons  and  General  Putnam  are  judges,  I  think  it 
of  importance  that  they  should  be  in  one  body.  By  including 
the  army  lands  within  the  boundary  lines  of  the  company  the 
settlement  of  both  would  be  accelerated. 

Of  the  two  propositions  which  General  Putnam  proposes,  I 
should  prefer  the  last ;  and  the  low  state  of  the  finances  of 
Congress  I  should  suppose  would  induce  them  to  comply  with 
it.  For  the  settlement  can  then  commence  much  earlier  than 
if  the  company  must  wait  until  Congress  has  completed  the 
survey.  The  expense  to  the  company  will  be  less  than  to 
Congress,  as  the  greater  part  of  the  surveying  may  be  done 
after  the  settlements  are  begun.  But  if  Congress  should  pre- 
fer surveying  the  lands  at  their  own  expense,  I  should  not  be 
Avilling,  at  present,  to  olFer  more  than  half  a  dollar  per  acre. 

•  Among  Dr.  Cutler's  papers   is   the  draft  of  a  letter  to  the 
Hon.  Nathan  Dane.*     It  is  as  follows  : 


*  Nathan  Dane  was  born  in  Ipswich,  Mass.,  1752,  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  1778.  He  was  four  years — 17S2  to  17S6 — a  member  of  the 
Massachusetts  General  Court;  was  a  delegate  to  Congress,  17cS5  to  1787; 
member  of  the  State  Senate  of  Massachusetts,   1790  to    1798;  was  an 

13 


194  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

3Iarch  16,  1787. 

There  being  a  large  number  of  persons  Avho  intend  to  be 
advenfurers  in  company,  in  this  part  of  Massachusetts  and  in 
New  Hampshire,  provided  a  purchase  of  hinds  can  be  made 
that  will  be  agreeable  to  them,  I  beg  leave  to  address  you  on 
the  subject.  General  Parsons  will  make  application  to  Con- 
gress, in  the  name  of  the  other  directors,  in  order  to  make  the 
purchase  for  the  company,  and  will  propose  terms  which  have 
been  agreed  to  by  the  other  directors.  The  directors  enter- 
tain hopes  that  Congress,  notwithstanding  their  land  ordinance, 
will  not  refuse  to  make  a  private  sale  to  this  company,  as  it 
will  greatly  accelerate  the  settlement,  save  the  company  a 
large  expense,  and  enable  them  to  purchase  the  whole  in  one 
body. 

The  high  price  at  which  Congress  have  set  the  federal  lands 
has  operated  much  against  the  company ;  for  the  lands  belong- 
ing to  this,  and  several  of  the  other  states,  are  sold  at  half  a 
dollar  per  acre,  which  is  the  highest  price  the  company  will 
give  for  the  lands  on  the  Ohio.  Though  the  federal  lands  may 
be  of  a  better  quality,  yet  their  distance  from  the  northward 
states,  and  the  hazards  to  which  the  first  settlers  must  be  exposed 
in  the  neighborhood  of  numerous  tribes  of  Indians,  are  no 
small  discouragements  to  adventurers,  and  will  be  admitted,  I 
conceive,  as  a  reason  for  lowering  the  price.  An  immediate 
and  great  settlement  must  be  an  object  of  consequence  in 
the  view  of  Congress,  and  settlers  from  the  northern  states, 
in  which  this  company  is  made  up,  are  undoubtedly  preferable 
to  those  from  the  southern  states.  They  will  be  men  of  more 
robust  constitutions,  inured  to  labor,  and  free  from  the  habits 
of  idleness.  The  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  mildness  of  the 
climate,  will  be  stroiig  encouragements  to  make  the  greatest 
exertions  in  improvements  of  the  land  on  their  first  settling 
them.  And  in  proportion  to  the  magnitude  of  the  settlement 
and   improvements   made,  both  the   lands   reserved   for  after 


elector  for  President  in  1812,  and  a  member  of  tlie  Hartford  Conven- 
tion in  1814.  "  He  is  said  to  have  been  distinguished  by  his  ability  in 
debate,  knowledge  of  public  business,  and  capacity  for  discharging  it, 
and  the  uprightness  and  correctness  of  his  views."  He  died  15th  Feb- 
ruary, 1835. — See  Stone's  History  of  Beverly. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  195 

sales,  and  those  adjacent,  must  rise  in  their  value,  and  the  de- 
mand for  them  be  increased. 

If  the  lands  could  be  immediately  purchased  on  the  terms 
the  Company  propose,  we  have  the  fullest  assurance  that  the 
subscription  for  one  million  of  dollars  Avill  be  completed  in  a 
short  time.  Many  of  the  subscribers  are  men  of  very  consid- 
erable property  and  respectable  characters,  who  intend  (for 
the  Company  admit  no  other)  to  become  residents  in  that 
country.  The  spirit  of  emigration  never  ran  higher  with  us 
than  at  this  time,  owing,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  general 
stagnation  of  business.  If  they  are  disappointed  in  their  ex- 
pectations westward,  Avill  turn  their  attention  to  some  other 
quarter. 

Will  it  not  be  for  the  interest  of  Congress,  after  running 
the  boundary  lines  of  the  tract  the  Company  wish  to  purchase 
by  their  own  surveyors,  to  permit  the  Company  to  survey  their 
own  lands,  and  to  fix  the  price  accordingly  ?  This,  I  con- 
ceive, would  expedite  the  settlement,  and  save  expense  to  the 
States.  Should  such  a  proposal  be  acceded  to,  I  see  not  why 
the  settlement  could  not  commence  immediately,  for,  as  soon 
as  the  general  boundaries  are  agreed  on,  men  might  be  imme- 
diately sent  on  to  lands  that  are  entirely  within  those  bounds. 
It  is  the  wish  of  the  Company,  and  an  object  of  great  conse- 
quence with  them,  to  send  on  a  party  of  settlers  this  spring, 
and  nothing  but  delays  in  making  the  contract  with  Congress 
will  prevent.  We  should  be  happy  in  obtaining  your  influ- 
ence in  favor  of  the  Company,  and  have  the  fullest  confidence 
of  your  readiness  to  second  the  wishes  of  so  large  a  number 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  New  England  States,  so  far  as  is 
consistent  with  the  general  interest  of  the  Union. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect,  sir. 
Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 
Hon.  Nathan  Dane,  Esq.  M,  Cutler. 

You  are  doubtless  acquainted  with  the  institution  of  a  Com- 
pany in  the  New  England  States  by  the  name  of  the  Ohio 
Company,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  large  settlement  on  the 
federal  lands  on  the  river  Ohio. 


196  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

\_Putna77i  and  Cutler  to  3Ia.jor  Sargent..^ 

Boston,  3Iay  30,  1787. 
Dear  Sir : — The  Company  have  held  a  meeting  and  taken 
into  consideration  the  letter  from  General  Parsons.  We  can- 
not, on  any  consideration,  accede  to  the  location  proposed  by 
him  to  Congress,  as  it  must  defeat  us  in  many  of  our  most 
important  views.  We  are  fully  in  opinion  that  the  most  ad- 
vantageous situation  will  be  nearly  where  we  first  proposed, 
and  wish,  if  possible,  to  have  our  eastern  bounds  on  the  line 
of  the  seventh  range  of  townships  and  our  western  on  the  line 
Congress  have  fixed  as  the  western  boundary  of  the  State  of 
Washington,  then  to  extend  northerly,  so  as  to  include  the 
quantity  of  lands  which  the  Company  shall  wish  to  purchase. 
We  must  insist,  at  least,  that  our  eastern  line  should  be  bounded 
on  the  Muskingum,  If  this  can  not  be  obtained,  Ave  think  of 
giving  up  the  idea  of  making  a  purchase  as  a  company.  Our 
prospects  are  such  that  we  have  little  doubt  of  extending  our 
subscription  to  a  greater  number  of  shares  than  is  proposed 
in  our  Articles  of  Association,  and  an  immediate  settlement 
should  be  made.  We  propose  one  of  us  to  visit  General  Par- 
sons, and,  if  necessary,  go  on  to  Congress  immediately  after 
we  are  informed  that  there  is  a  sufficient  representation  for 
completing  our  business.  Our  principal  fears  of  a  disappoint- 
ment are  that  Congress  may  dispose  of  those  lands  before  it 
Avill  be  in  our  power  to  apply  for  them.  We  therefore  beg 
you  to  do  every  thing  in  your  poAver  to  obtain  the  lands  where 
we  proposed;  and  to  suggest  to  some  of  the  most  influential 
members,  in  Avhom  confidence  can  be  placed,  Avhere  our  Com- 
pany wishes  to  make  their  purchase  ;  and  that,  if  they  are  dis- 
appointed, the  Company  Avill  give  up  the  idea  of  making  the 
purchase  at  all ;  and  that  they  Avill  endeavor  to  prevent  the  dis- 
posal of  those  lands  until  the  Company  can  have  opportunity 
to  make  application.  We  think  some  caution  may  be  necessary 
in  placing  confidence,  particularly  Avith  respect  to  members 
from  this  commonwealth.  We  can,  however,  confide  in  your 
prudence  in  this  matter.  We  likewise  think  it  best,  as  there 
seems  to  be  ground  to    suppose   General    P s    may  have 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  197 

views  separate  from  the  interest  of  this  Company  in  his  pro- 
posal for  a  location,  that  he  should  have  no  information  of  our 
desire  to  have  it  in  another  place  until  we  have  opportunity 
to  converse  with  him  on  the  subject.  We  beg  you  to  give  us 
the  earliest  information  when  Congress  are  sufficiently  repre- 
sented for  our  purposes,  if  it  takes  place  before  you  leave 
New  York ;  if  not  before  your  departure,  that  you  will  re- 
quest some  friend  there  to  inform  us  after  you  leave  the  City. 
We  refer  you  to  Captain  Mills  for  further  information, 
And  are,  with  the  highest  esteem,  sir. 

Your  most  obedient,  humble  servants. 
Major  Sargent.  Rufus  Putnam, 

Mannasseh  Cutler. 

Jan.  1,  3Ion.,  to  Jan.  6,  Sat,  1787.  Reading  LinnsBus' 
Syst.  Nat.  on  Animals. 

Jan.  8—13.  Men  sent  for  to  oppose  the  insurrection  in  the 
western  counties  of  this  Commonwealth. 

Jan.  15,  Afon.  Militia  company  called  together  in  order  to 
get  men  for  opposing  the  insurrection.  I  read  to  the  people, 
at  10  o'clock,  the  Address  from  the  General  Court ;  and  then 
addressed  them  on  the  nature  of  our  Constitutional  Govern- 
ment, and  the  present  dangerous  state  of  our  affairs,  and  en- 
deavored to  point  out  the  consequences  of  opposition  to  the 
laws. 

Jan.  16,  Tues.     The  men  marched  to  Cambridge. 

[Dr.  Whitney,  who  Avas  actively  engaged  on  sea  and  land, 
in  the  service  of  his  country,  during  the  Revolutionary  War, 
now  again  drew  his  sword  and  marched  aerainst  the  insurgents. 
The  following  letter  from  him  to  Dr.  Cutler,  giving  a  graphic 
account  of  the  campaign,  has  been  preserved]  : 

Petersham,  February  6,  1787. 
Rev.  Mr.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Dear  Sir : — Beg  your  pardon  for  not  writing  before,  but  we 
have  not  tarried  long  enough  in  one  place  to  scrawl  two  lines. 
Shall  now  only  give  you  a  narrative  of  our  route  since  leaving 
Ipswich,  which,  you  remember,  was  on  Wednesday  morning. 


198  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

We  went  to  Boston,  and  conversed  with  General  Lincoln,* 
who  ordered  Colonel  Wade's  Regiment  to  rendezvous  at  Wo- 
burn,  where  we  arrived  Thursday  evening,  and  remained  till 
Saturday  morning ;  then  marched  to  Concord,  and  quartered. 
Sunday  morning  we  marched  for  Marlborough,  where  we 
joined  General  Lincoln,  with  his  detachment,  and  marched  to 
Worcester,  where  we  tarried  till  Wednesday  morning,  and 
then  marched  on  toward  Springfield. 

While  on  our  march  we  had  an  express  from  General  Shep- 
herd to  hasten  on  with  all  speed.  Shays,  with  a  party  of 
about  fifteen  or  sixteen  hundred,  approached  General  Shep- 
herd's lines.  The  General  sent  a  flag,  wishing  to  know  what 
he  would  have.  Shays  informed  the  messenger  that  he,  with 
his  men,  determined  to  lodge  in  the  Barracks  at  Springfield. 
Upon  which  the  General  drew  a  line,  and  forbid  his  marching 
over  ;  which,  if  he  did,  should  certainly  fire  upon  him.  Shays, 
with  his  heretofore  known  folly,  still  kept  on  his  march  till  he 
had  exceeded  the  bounds  prescribed.  General  Shepherd  then 
ordered  the  artillery  to  fire  two  cannon — one  on  the  right  and 
the  other  on  the  left — which  they  paid  no  regard  to.  Then 
orders  were  given  to  fire  among  them ;  upon  which  three  of 
Shays'  men  were  killed  and  one  wounded,  and  they  retreated 
with  haste  and  disorder,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  upon 
the  spot. 

General  Lincoln  continued  his  march,  and  arrived  at  Spring- 
field Saturday  afternoon.  Soon  after  we  had  taken  quarters 
we  were  summoned  to  parade,  in  order  to  attack  a  party  at 
West  Springfield,  commanded  by  one  Day,  of  about  five  hun- 
dred men.  As  soon  as  our  Advance  Guard,  with  a  small  party 
of  Light  Horse,  came  on  to  the  river,  their  Picket  Guard,  which 
was  kept  at  the  other  side  of  the  river,  ran  like  foxes,  leaving 
their  guns  behind.  Some  of  them  arrived  at  the  Meeting 
House,  Avhere  the  main  body  paraded  with  all  speed,  and  be- 
took themselves  to  the  bush  with  confusion.  Our  Ligh^  Horse 
followed  them,  picking  up  of  them  about  forty  or  fifty,  which 


*  General  Benjamin  Lincoln,  a  distinguished  Revolutionary  officer; 
born  at  Hingham,  Mass.,  173o;  died  there,  1810.  In  1787  he  com- 
manded the  forces  that  suppressed  Shays'  insurrection. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  199 

were  brought  to  Headquarters,  and,  upon  taking  the  Oath,  were 
discharged.  A  number  of  sleighs  with  provisions  were  taken 
at  the  same  time. 

Day's  party  reached  Northampton  that  night  about  12 
o'clock,  much  fatigued.  Upon  their  route  they  came  across 
a  small  guard  at  Northampton  Bridge,  and  were  fired  upon, 
which  much  surprised  them,  and  in  their  confusion  fired  upon 
them  again,  and  shot  one  of  their  own  Adjutants  through  the 
head.  The  next  day  they  left  Northampton,  and  joined  Shays' 
party  at  Pelham. 

General  Lincoln  marched  Monday  morning,  and  arrived  at 
Old  Hadley  in  the  evening.  Here  we  remained  till  Saturday 
evening,  in  which  time  Shays  sent  in  several  flags,  desiring  a 
general  pardon.  If  granted,  they  would  resign  up  their  arms, 
and  become  good  and  peaceable  subjects  to  government. 
General  Lincoln  returned  Printed  Letters  (which  you  must 
have  seen  a  copy  of  in  the  Boston  Papers),  if  they  would  de- 
liver up  the  Leaders  he  would- recommend  them  to  Court  for 
mercy;  which  did  not  please  them.  On  Saturday  morning 
Shays,  with  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  hundred  men,  left  Pelham 
and  marched  to  Petersham,  about  thirty  miles ;  upon  which^ 
General  Lincoln  forced  a  march  upon  them  Saturday  night,  in 
a  violent  snow-storm  and  severe  cold,  so  that  many  were  frozen. 
We  reached  Petersham  by  sunrise,  which  put  them  to  flight 
with  the  loss  of  about  200  men,  which  fell  into  our  hands, 
with  considerable  of  their  baggage.  They  have  gone  over 
into  Hampshire  Government,  just  over  the  line.  We  expect 
to  march  immediately. 

Express  just  arrived  from  Boston,  declaring  the  three  coun- 
ties, viz.,  Hampshire,  Berkshire,  and  Worcester,  in  a  state  of 
rebellion.  Now  we  can  fire  upon  the  insurgents  wherever  we 
find  them.  What  the  event  of  all  this  will  be  must  leave  for 
others  to  determine.  This  evening  six  pieces  of  Artillery, 
with  Colonel  Sterns'  Regiment,  have  been  dismissed,  and  have 
marched  for  their  respective  homes.  You  will  excuse  this  im- 
perfect narrative,  and  all  blunders,  which  am  convinced  are 
many. 

My  best  regards  to  Mrs.  Cutler  and  family.     Hope  Fortune 


200  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

is  upon  his  legs   by  this.     Beg   a  line   from   you   by  the  first 
opportunity. 

From  your  sincere  friend  and  humble  Serv't, 

E.  Whitney. 
P.  S. — Colonel  Wade,  with  the  rest  of  our  family,  join  in 
regards  to  Rev.  Mr.  Cutler  and  Lady. 

Jan.  31,  Wed.  Attended  the  meeting  of  the  Academy,  in 
the  hall  of  the  Bank.  Dined  with  his  Excellency  the  Governor, 
Mr.  Bowdoin.  Spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Everett's,  with  a 
large  number  of  gentlemen. 

Feh.  1,  Thurs.  Attended  the  meeting  of  the  Committee  of 
Agriculture.  Chose  our  ofiicers  for  the  year  ensuing.  Dined 
with  Major  Irving.  Spent  the  evening  with  Major  Sargent 
and  Colonel  Waters. 

Feb.  20-23.  Preparing  letters,  and  pamphlets  of  my  Botan- 
ical Paper  for  Europe. 

JFeb.  24,  Sat.  Sent  my  packet  for  Europe  to  Boston.  It 
is  to  go  to  Philadelphia,  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Samuel  Vaughan, 
Jr. 

Feh.  26,  3Io7i.  Went  to  Salem,  with  Mr.  Haradan,  to  ob- 
serve the  manner  of  hanging  the  (church)  bell. 

Feh.  27,  28.     Getting  timber  for  hanging  the  bell. 

3Iar.  1,  2,  3.     Busy  in  assisting  about  hanging  the  bell. 

3Iar.  5-10.  Confined  to  the  house  by  an  inflammation  on 
the  glands  of  my  mouth  and  throat. 

Mar.  11,  Lord's  Day.  Preached.  Very  unwell.  Went  to 
meeting  with  my  mufl3er. 

3Iar.  12,  Mon.  Went  to  Boston  in  my  sleigh.  Mr,  Prince 
rode  with  me. 

3Iar.  14,  Wed.  Attended  a  meeting  of  the  Academy  and 
settled  the  matter  of  the  Volume. 

[Dr.  Cutler's  love  of  nature  led  him  to  be  very  observant  of 
her  processes.  This  spring  he  carefully  notes  the  time  of 
blossoming  of  a  number  of  trees  and  plants.] 

April  2,  Mon.     Dogwood  appeared  in  blossom. 

^pr.  3-7.  Observed  Skunk  Cabbage' in  blossom.  Anemone 
Hepat.  in  bloom. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  201 

Apr.  9-12.     Alders  in  bloom.     Hazlenut  in  bloom. 

Apr.  13.     Elms  in  bloom. 

Ajjr.  17,  Tues.  Mrs.  Cutler  and  I  went  to  Mr.  Fuller's. 
Brought  home  Bear's-bush  and  two  species  of  Sumach. 

Apr.  18.     Juniper  in  bloom. 
.     Apr.  20,  Fri.     Went  into  the  woods  after  specimens  of  birds 
and   plants.     Obtained   many  birds,  but   plants   were   few   of 
them  in  bloom.     Brought  home  the  savin  and  bear's-foot,  and 
planted  them  in  garden. 

Apr.  21,  jSat.     Maple  in  bloom. 

Apr.  23.  Lilac  buds  advanced  so  as  to  open  and  leaves 
appear.  Pine  buds  advanced ;  also  beech  buds  and  pitch- 
pine. 

Apr.  27,  Fri.  Mr.  Swain's  lecture.  Mr.  McKeen  and  I 
attended.     I  preached. 

May  8,  Tues.  Ministers'  meeting  at  Mr.  Holt's;  very  full. 
I  preached.     An  agreeable  day. 

Mii'i/  19,  jSat.  Dr.  Holyoke  and  Dr.  Osgood  here  from 
Salem ;  also  Mr.  Williams  and  Mr.  Hichborn,  from  Boston. 

May  20,  Lord's  Lay.  Preached.  After  meeting  rode  to 
Cape  Ann.  Mr.  Williams  married.  Mr.  Forbes  and  I  as- 
sisted each  other  in  the  ceremony. 

3fay  29,  Tues.  At  Boston.  Meeting  of  the  Academy. 
Dined  at  Governor  Bowdoin's.  Attended  a  meeting  of  the 
Ohio  Company. 

May  30,  Wed.     Election.     Dined  at  Governor  Hancock's. 

May  31,  Thurs.  Convention.  Dined  at  Dr.  Howard's. 
Spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Belknap's. 

June  6,  Wed.  Mrs.  C.  and  I  went  to  Salem.  Dined  and 
lodged  at  Captain  Peele's.  Spent  the  evening  at  Dr.  Holy- 
oke's. 

June  12,  Tues.  At  ministers'  meeting  at  Mr.  Swain's.  Mr. 
Forbes,  Mr.  Wadsworth,  Mr.  Parsons,  and  Mr.  Porter  also 
present.     Mr.  Parsons  preached  a  very  good  sermon. 

June  23,  Sat.     Preparing  for  a  journey  to  New  York. 

[The  application  of  General  Parsons  to  Congress  for  land 
having  failed,  Dr.  Cutler  proceeded,  under  the  authority  con- 


202  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

ferred  by  a  Resolution  of  the  Company,  to^make  a  "  private 
purchase  of  lands  of  the  Honorable  Congress."  At  the  re- 
quest of  his  children,  Dr.  Cutler  wrote  out  from  his  notes  the 
full  account  of  his  journey  to  New  York^and  Philadelphia 
found  in  the  following  chapters.] 


Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler.  203 


CHAPTER   VI. 

.TouRNKY  TO  New  York  and  Philadklphia,  1787.* 

Sunday,  June  24.  Exchanged  with  Mr.  Parsons,  of  Lynn. 
After  meeting,  called  on  John  Carnes,  Esq.,  to  receive  his 
commands,  if  any,  for  New  York.  Rode  to  Cambridge ;  spent 
the  evening  at  Dr.  Willard's,  in  company  with  Mr.  Winthrop, 
the  Librarian.  Proposed  going  to  President  Willard's,  but 
the  Doctor  insisted  on  my  lodging  with  him,  which  I  did. 

Monday,  June  25.  Waited  on  Dr.  Willard  this  morning, 
who  favored  me  with  a  number  of  introductory  letters  to 
gentlemen  at  the  southward.  Received  several  from  Dr. 
Williams,  and  went  with  him  to  Boston.  Fare  at  the  bridge, 
M. 

Received  letters  of  introduction  from  Governor  Bowdoin, 
Mr.  Winthrop,  Dr.  Warren,  Dr.  Dexter,  Mr.  Guild,  Mr.  Belk- 


*A  manuscript  copy  of  the  original  of  Dr.  Cutler's  journal  of  his 
visit  to  New  York  and  Philadelphia  fell  into  the  hands  of  Dr.  S.  P. 
Hildreth,  of  Marietta,  many  years  since,  and  he  mnde  out  a  copy  and 
placed  it  in  the  Hildreth  Cabinet  in  Marietta  College.  He  also  pre- 
pared numerous  notes  relating  to  prominent  persons  mentioned  in  the 
journal.  Through  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  I.  \V.  Andrews,  of  the  college, 
the  reader  will  have  the  benefit  of  Dr.  Hildreth's  labors  to  ihc  extent 
of  such  notes  as  are  marked  (Dr.  S.  1'.  Hildreth).  The  following  ob- 
servations, made  by  Dr.  Hildreth,  found  at  the  close  of  his  copy,  give 
his  own  impressions  and  estimate  of  the  value  of  such  a  record:  "The 
above  brief  sketches  of  the  more  prominent  men  named  in  Dr.  Cut- 
ler's journal  have  been  wiitten  to  show  how  honorable  and  distin- 
guished were  the  persons  with  whom  he  had  intercourse,  and  from 
whom  he  received  the  most  marked  attentions,  bearing  testimony  to 
the  worth  and  excellence  of  the  character  of  Dr.  Cutler.  The  whole 
of  the  journal  discovers  the  writer  to  have  been  a  man  of  no  ordinary 
talents,  and  remarkable  for  his  acuteness  in  discovering  the  abilities 
and  qualities  of  the  men  with  whom  he  had  intercourse,  as  well  as  his 
refined  taste  in  describing  the  objects  of  art  or  of  na'ure  that  came 
under  his  notice.  The  journal  is  a  model  of  excellence  in  the  style 
of  writing,  well  worth  preserving  for  future  ages." 


204  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

nap,  etc.  Conversed  with  General  Putnam.  Received  letters. 
Settled  the  principles  on  which  I  am  to  contract  with  Congress 
for  lands  on  account  of  the  Ohio  Company.  Received  intro- 
ductory letters  from  Mr.  Emory,  particularly  one  for  Mons. 
Mechard,  the  French  Botanist  in  the  Jerseys. 

Left  Boston  for  Dedham  at  half-after  six  ;  made  a  stage  at 
Major  Whiting's,  in  Roxbury  ;  bill,  Scl.  Arrived  at  Mr.  Chick- 
ering's  at  eleven  ;  all  in  bed.  However,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chick- 
ering  got  up,  and  we  spent  a  tolerably  long  evening  after  this 
before  we  went  to  bed. 

Tuesday,  June  26.  Went  on  this  morning  for  Providence. 
Stage  at  Mann's,  Wrentham.  Dined ;  bill,  2s.  2c?.  Stage  at 
Dogget's,  Attleborough  ;  bill,  Qd.  Arrived  at  Mr.  Hitchcock's, 
at  Providence,  at  6  o'clock.  Very  kindly  received.  A  large 
circle  of  ladies  on  a  visit,  and  one  or  two  gentlemen ;  among 
others,  Mrs.  Jones,  wife  of  Mr.  Coffin  Jones,  of  Boston,  to 
whom  he  has  been  lately  married.  She  was  an  English  lady, 
whose  mother  came  from  London  since  the  war,  and  settled  at 
NeAvport,  in  Rhode  Island. 

This  lady  distinguished  herself  by  the  ease  and  politeness 
of  her  manners,  her  good  sense  and  most  engaging  sociability. 
The  two  Mrs.  Bowens  were  of  the  company,  both  remarkable 
for  good  sense  and  entertaining  conversation.  The  gentlemen 
were  Mr.  Mumford,  Mr.  Benson,  and  afterward.  Dr.  Bowen 
and  Mr.  Nightingale.  We  spent  the  evening  in  the  most  agree- 
able sociability,  with  less  impertinence  and  more  instructive 
and  sentimental  remarks  than  is  commonly  found  in  circles  of 
this  kind.  Were  I  disposed  to  indulge  envy  at  the  happy  lot 
of  my  friends,  I  should  certainly  indulge  it  with  respect  to  the 
agreeable  situation  and  circumstances  of  Mr.  Hitchcock.  His 
house  is  elegant — most  delightfully  situated  on  an  eminence 
that  overlooks  the  tow'n.  A  support  that  enables  him  to  live 
in  a  style  above  the  most  of  his  brother  clergymen,  and,  what 
I  should  prize  far  more  than  any  other  enjoyment,  a  large 
circle  of  acquaintances,  with  whom  he  can  indulge  every  rational 
freedom,  and  from  whom  he  is  receiving  every  mark  of  attention 
and  generosity.  But  envy,  the  bane  of  human  happiness,  can 
never  alleviate  our  sorrows,  soften  our  cares,  or  make  the 
smallest  amends  for  our  own  inconveniences. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  205 

Divine  Providence,  all  -svise  in  its  dispensations,  though  un- 
fathomable by  us,  has  allotted  us  different  portions  of  the 
means  of  happiness  in  this  -world.  We  have  no  ground  for 
complaint,  and  our  only  relief  is  to  rejoice  in  the  happiness  of 
our  friends.  We  then  secure  to  ourselves  a  share  of  -what 
Heaven  has  given  to  them  and  denied  to  us. 

The  company  Avent  away  at  eleven,  after  which  brother 
Hitchcock  and  I  chatted  over  old  affairs  and  new  prospects  till 
after  one,  when  Ave  retired  to  bed. 

Wednesday,  June  27.  This  morning  I  received  a  polite  in- 
vitation from  Governor  BoAven,  in  the  name  of  a  large  com- 
pany, to  join  them  in  a  Turtle  frolic,  six  miles  out  of  town. 
Mr.  Hitchcock  and  the  other  clergymen  of  the  toAvn  Avere  of  the 
party,  but,  much  against  my  inclination,  I  Avas  obliged  to  ex- 
cuse myself.  Spending  my  time  in  Turtle  frolics  would  very 
illy  comport  Avith  the  long  journey  and  public  business  I  had 
undertaken.  As  I  Avent  out  of  toAvn,  Mr.  Hitchcock  and  I 
waited  on  Governor  BoAven.  I  informed  him  that  it  Avas  my 
wish  to  visit  the  famous  steam  engine  at  Cranston,  of  Avhicli  he 
is  one  of  the  proprietors.  He  proposed  excusing  himself  from 
going  Avith  the  Turtle  party,  and  riding  out  Avith  me  to  the  en- 
gine, eight  miles  from  Providence ;  but  as  it  must  have  de- 
prived him  and  the  company  of  so  much  pleasure  as  they  had 
then  in  prospect,  I  insisted  on  his  not  thinking  of  it,  and  Avent 
on  myself  to  Cranston.  To  go  to  the  furnace  and  engine  was 
eight  miles,  nearly,  out  of  my  Avay,  and  a  road  I  had  never 
traveled ;  but  my  curiosity  Avas  so  much  excited  by  the  de- 
scription of  so  singular  a  machine,  and  the  only  one  in  America, 
that  I  could  not  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  viewing  it. 

I  arrived  at  the  ore-beds  at  12  o'clock.  The  engine  was  at 
work,  raising  water  from  a  well  80  feet  deep.  The  iron  flue 
is  2|  feet  wide  and  6  feet  long,  with  a  square  hearth  at  the 
mouth,  secured  from  fire  by  large,  thick,  iron  plates.  On  the 
back  part  of  the  flue  is  a  winding  funnel,  which  passes  into  a 
chimney  on  the  back  part  of  the  building.  A  Avooden  boiler 
of  6  feet  diameter  is  placed  above  the  flue,  Avhich  is  constantly 
kept  full  of  water  Avhen  the  engine  is  in  motion.  The  boiler 
rises  above  the  first  story  of  the  building,  much  in  the  form  of 
the  large  cisterns  in  distilleries,  where  it  receives   at  the  top 


206  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

the  condensing  cylinder,  2J  feet  in  diameter,  and    made    of 
plated  iron.     From  this  cylinder  a  large  worm    passes  with 
many  windings  down  the  boiler.     The  valve  that  passes  into 
this  cylinder  is  more  than  2  feet  in  diameter,  and  rises  and 
descends  by  means  of  an  iron  rod  made  fast  to  one  end  of  the 
large    beam.     Around    the    top    of   the    boiler  are  numerous 
leaden  pipes,  some  connected  with  the  condenser  and   some 
not,  furnished  with  stop-cocks  for  admitting  and    excluding 
air  or  water,  as  necessary  in  working  the  machine ;  but  they 
are  too  numerous  and  complicated  to  admit  of  any  description 
from  a  mere  view  of  the  machine.     A  large  reservoir  of  water 
is  placed  in  the  third  loft  of  the  house,  constantly  affording 
water  to  the  works  below,  and   as  constantly  supplied  (with  a 
pump  for  the   purpose),  by  the  working  of  the  machine.     The 
large  beam  is  a  massive  piece  of  timber,  near  4  feet  in  diameter 
and  20  feet  long,  being  two  very  large  oak  timbers  nicely 
forged  together.     It  moves  on  a  large  iron  bolt  in  the  center, 
like  the  beam  of  scales,  and  has  two  arching  timbers  at  each 
end  forming  the  segments  of  a  circle,  along  which   two  chains 
of  a  prodigious  size  play  as  the  beam  moves.     One  of  these 
chains  leads  to  the  piston  or  valve  of  the  condenser,  and  the 
other,  at  the  opposite  end,  to  the  pumps  in  the  well.     There 
are  four  cold  water  pipes,  one  feeding  pipe,  and  one  venting 
pipe.     By  the  same  motion  of  the  beam  which  raises  the  water 
out  of  the  well,  all  these  pipes  open  or  close,  by  the  means  of 
stop-cocks  and  valves,  as  the  design  of  them  requires.   There  are 
two  large  pumps  in  the  well,  Avhicli  is  80  feet  deep  and  23  feet 
wide.     The   sides   of  wells  are   supported   by  large  timbers, 
laid  horizontal,  so  as  to  make  the  form  of  the  wells  quintan- 
gular,  and    the    ends    of    the    timbers  let    into   one   another. 
The    engine  raises   7   hogsheads   of   water   in   a  minute,  and 
the  flue  consumes  2  cords  of  wood  in  twenty-four  hours.     The 
immense    weight   of  the    beam,    the    cast-iron    wheels,   large 
chains,    and    other  weighty  parts   of   the    works,  occasion  a 
most    tremendous    noise    and    trembling  of   the    large   build- 
ins  in  which  it  is  erected,  when  the  machine  is  in  motion. 
By  the  sides  of  the  well  from  which  the  water  is  drawn  are 
two  other  wells  of  the  same   form,  70   feet  deep.     These  are 
sunk  down  in  the  bed  of  ore ;  and  in  these  are  the  workmen, 


Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler.  207 

about  ten  or  twelve  in  number,  digging  ore.  The  ore  is  raised 
in  large  buckets,  which  hold  about  one  ton  weight,  let  down 
and  drawn  up  by  large  chains,  carried  from  the  well  to  a  large 
capstan,  which  is  constantly  turned  by  an  ox.  As  one  bucket 
rises,  another  goes  down.  These  wells  are  kept  dry  by  the 
water  continually  drawing  off  into  the  well  where  the  pumps 
are  fixed,  and  the  pumps  keep  the  water  below  the  height 
where  the  men  work.  This  curious  machine  was  made  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Joseph  Brown,  of  Providence,  and  is  a 
standing  proof  of  the  abilities  of  that  able  philosopher.  The 
invention  was  not  new,  but  he  has  made  many  valuable  im- 
provements, in  simplifying  and  making  the  working  of  it  more 
convenient,  above  what  has  yet  been  done  in  Europe.  It 
cost  upward  of  one  thousand  pounds  sterling.  Baited  my 
horse ;  ^d. 

Returned  to  Knight's  tavern,  and  dined.  Bill,  2.s.  Shoeing 
my  horse,  bd.  Next  stage  Waterman's,  in  Johnson ;  bill,  Qd. 
Lodged  at  Owen's  tavern,  in  Gloucester.  Rode  to-day  27 
miles.  Providence  is  75  miles  from  Ipswich  Hamlet,  which 
gives  my  distance,  as  I  have  traveled,  102  miles. 

Thursday.,  June  28.  My  bill  this  morn,  2s.  Qd.  Stage  at 
Mahunganug,  Bussey's  tavern.  Bill,  Qd.  Arrived  at  my 
father's  at  11  o'clock.  All  well.  My  father  in  much  better 
health,  and  more  able  to  attend  to  his  business,  than  I  ex- 
pected to  find  him.  He  is  able  to  assist  in  getting  in  hay,  and 
other  farming  Avork,  which  he  does  of  choice,  though  turned 
of  80.  In  the  afternoon  I  preached  a  lecture  for  Mr.  Atkins. 
Spent  the  evening  with  him,  Esq.  Howe,  and  a  number  of  my 
okl  acquaintances.  This  is  11  miles  from  Owen's  tavern,  and 
my  distance  113  miles  from  home. 

Friday,  Juyie  20.  This  morning  set  out  from  my  father's 
for  Hartford.  My  first  stage  Judge  Randal's  tavern,  at  Ash- 
ford,  13  miles.  The  Judge  was  very  handy,  for  a  country 
tavern-keeper,  in  taking  my  horse  out  of  the  carriage,  and 
very  faithful  in  feeding  him  with  hay  and  oats.  If  he  made 
as  good  a  judge,  when  on  the  bench,  as  he  does  an  inn-keeper, 
he  must  have  excelled  many  of  his  brethren  in  ofiice.  .  .  . 
10  miles  from  Fulshaw's.     Bill,  Is. 

Stage  at  Esq.  Clark's,  Ashford ;  8  miles.     Bill,  M.;  horse- 


208  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

shoeing,  Is.  Clark  keeps  a  good  house  ;  every  thing  is  ex- 
tremely neat,  and  the  house  appears  to  be  well  stored  with 
every  kind  of  refreshment  a  traveler  can  wish.  This  is  one 
of  those  rare  taverns  in  the  country  where  town  dwellers, 
horse  jockeys,  and  tavern  haunters  never  resort.  From  Ash- 
ford  I  went  through  a  corner  of  Willington,  and  then  through 
Mansfield,  upper  parish.  Mansfield  is  bounded  west  by  the 
Willimantic  River,  which  empties  itself  into  the  Quinebaug 
below  Windham,  forming  the  NorAvich  River.  Over  Willi- 
mantic bridge  is  Coventry  ;  and,  at  the  foot  of  it,  Bingham's 
tavern,  where  I  lodged. 

Rode  this  day  through  a  fine,  but  very  hilly  part  of  the 
country.  I  no  sooner  descended  one  hill,  than  I  had  to  as- 
cend another.  The  hills  are  very  long,  but  not  steep ;  they 
are,  however,  intolerably  rocky,  and  the  roads  wretchedly  out 
of  repair.  From  these  hills  the  prospects  are  most  delightful. 
Extensive  farms  in  every  direction,  large  fields  of  corn,  grain, 
and  mowing  land  ;  large  orchards,  and  a  great  variety  of  fruit 
trees.  Nature  appears  most  luxuriant,  and  the  cheerful  la- 
borers were  beginning  their  first  harvest.  Grain  of  every 
species  was  fine,  but  Indian  corn  rather  backward.  The  soil 
is  rich,  strong,  and  moist.  Small  streams  of  water  are  nu- 
merous. The  whole  of  this  part  of  the  country  is  finely 
watered.  I  was  pleased  this  day  with  seeing  the  farmers,  in 
many  instances,  plowing  among  their  corn  with  one  ox,  instead 
of  a  horse.  Was  this  practice  universally  adopted,  I  am  per- 
suaded it  would  make  a  great  saving  to  our  farmers.  Bing- 
ham's tavern  is  12  miles  from  Clark's.  The  house,  a  wretched 
old  shattered  fabric  ;  the  man,  rather  a  churlish  clown,  who 
affected  to  know  what  kind  of  keeping  I  chose  for  my  horse 
much  better  than  I  knew  myself.  However,  at  length  he  con- 
descended to  give  him  the  quantity  of  oats  and  hay  I  chose 
he  should  have ;  but  I  did  not  trust  his  honesty  without  seeing 
it  done  myself.  His  wife  made  a  much  better  appearance. 
She  is  a  good-looking  woman,  handsomely  dressed,  and  very 
obliginfr,  and  seems  to  have  deserved  a  better  husband  and  a 
better  house.  She  gave  me  a  tolerable  supper — certainly  as 
good  as  the  house  afforded — a  good  bed,  and  clean  sheets. 
Traveled  this  day  30  miles.     Have  now  journeyed  140  miles. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  209 

Saturday.,  June  30.  I  rose  this  morning  as  soon  as  the  day- 
light appeared,  but  so  slow  and  bungling  Avas  my  landlord 
that  it  was  near  sunrise  before  I  stepped  into  my  carriage ; 
bill,  2s. 

There  Avas  this  morning  a  very  bright  fog  bow  m  the  west. 
The  bow  Avas  completely  formed  a  little  after  the  sun  had  risen, 
and  continued  for  some  time.  The  breadth  Avas  about  10  min- 
utes of  a  degree.  There  was  the  appearance  of  a  rainy  day, 
but  the  clouds  in  a  little  time  dissipated. 

Breakfosted  at  the  AvidoAV  Kimbal's,  in  Coventry,  four  miles 
from  Bingham's.  The  house  somcAvhat  ncAv  and  very  spacious. 
The  landlady  is  a  thin  favored,  but  a  neat,  spruce  AvidoAV.  My 
breakfast  an  excellent  dish  of  green  tea  and  a  rasher  of 
broiled  shad.  My  horse  this  morning  very  lame  again  in  his 
right  foot.     Bill,  Is.  M. 

In  my  Avay  to  East  Hartford  I  passed  through  Bolton,  and 
left  the  south  parish,  a  very  pretty  village  in  plain  vicAv,  on 
my  left.  In  this  tOAvn  is  what  is  usually  called  the  notch  of 
Hartford  Mountains.  The  ends  of  two  mountains  of  consid- 
erable height,  one  on  each  hand,  seem  to  butt  near  the  edge  of 
the  road,  as  thovigh  Nature  had  separated  them  on  purpose  for 
the  accommodation  of  travelers,  forming  a  narroAv  pass  of 
nearly  level  ground,  free  from  stones,  and  only  a  little  wider 
than  the  road  itself,  while  the  tAVO  ends  of  the  mountains  form 
hideous  precipices,  jutting  over  the  passengers'  heads.  From 
Bingham's  to  the  notch  the  land  is  broken,  hilly,  and  rocky ; 
but  the  soil  is  rich,  producing  excellent  grass,  corn,  grain,  and 
orchards.  After  I  passed  the  notch,  the  land  is  more  level, 
free  from  stones,  and  somewhat  sandy. 

Made  my  next  stage  at  Woodbridge's,  East  Hartford,  six 
miles  from  the  AvidoAV  Kimbal's.  This,  I  believe,  is  a  good 
house,  though  I  made  but  little  use  of  it.  Here  I  met  Avith  a 
man  of  great  sagacity  and  remarkable  complaisance,  who,  after 
taking  off  his  hat,  making  several  boAvs  and  scrapes  Avitli  his 
foot,  asked  me  if  I  was  not  the  governor.  This  was  truly 
characteristic  of  a  Connecticut  tavern.     Bill,  3(^. 

Went  on  to  Hartford  in  the  southern  road.     My  horse  very 
lame,  but  the  land  level  and  the  road  very  good.     Crossed  the 
14 


210  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

ferry  opposite  to  the  city  in  a  large,  commodious  boat,  Avitliout 
taking  my  horse  out  of  the  carriage.  The  shipping  on  the 
city  side  of  the  river  was  much  more  considerable  than  when 
I  was  at  college,  twenty-two  years  ago.  There  were  several 
A^ery  handsome  brigs  and  schooners,  emplo^'ed  in  the  West 
India  trade.  The  river  is  about  half  a  mile  in  width,  and  the 
rapidity  of  the  stream  considerable. 

Made  my  stage  at  Pratt's  tavern,  nearly  opposite  the  stage- 
house,  and  sign  of  the  Bull,  ten  miles  from  Woodbridge's.  My 
dinner  was  indifferent,  and  my  companions  at  ta1)le,  who  ap- 
peared to  be  four  sturdy  Dutchmen,  were  as  little  to  my  taste. 
However,  we  were  very  Quakerish,  every  man  attending  closely 
to  the  business  of  eating,  without  uttering  scarcely  a  word, 
until  we  had  disposed  of  nearly  every  atom  of  food  on  the 
table,  when  we  all  parted  in  the  same  peaceable  manner.  This 
tavern  seems  to  be  remarkable  for  nothing  but  an  elegant  sign 
of  a  large  fierce  bull  chained  to  a  tree.  My  landlord  very 
much  alarmed  me  by  saying  he  believed  the  lameness  of  ray 
horse  was  in  his  shoulder,  and  that  he  had  one  in  the  same 
condition.  I  suspected,  however,  that  he  wished  me  to  leave 
mv  horse  with  him  and  hire  one  of  his  for  the  journey.  He 
sent  for  a  farrier-blacksmith,  who  seemed  to  be  in  doubt  where 
the  lameness  was  ;  but  he  took  off  the  shoe  which  had  been 
set  the  day  before,  and,  after  setting  it  again,  he  traveled 
without  limping  in  the  least. 

The  city  of  Hartford  is  most  delightfully  situated,  on  high 
ground,  and  near  the  banks  of  a  beautiful  river.  The  prospect 
is  extensive  and  the  streets  handsome.  The  main  street,  Avhich 
is  very  straight  and  spacious,  running  the  whole  length  of  the 
city,  is  elegant.  Tke  houses  are  very  large  and  many  of  them 
brick,  with  large  shops  of  goods  of  every  kind  fronting  the 
street.  But  the  narrow  bridge  over  the  small  river  which  runs 
through  the  city,  crossing  this  street  at  right  angles,  greatly 
injures  its  appearance,  and  is  truly  disgusting.  Bill,  l.s-.  lOd.; 
horseshoeing,  8(^.;  barber,  9d.  After  dinner,  I  called  on  my 
classmate,  Jona.  Bull,  Esq.,  one  of  the  aldermen  of  the  c'ltj, 
but  did  not  get  out  of  my  carriage.  I  have  not  seen  him,  nor 
any  of  my  classmates  in  this  part  of  the  country,  since  we 
commenced  at  college  twenty-two  years  ago.     I  was  surprised 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  211 

to  find  lie  knew  me  at  some  distance,  for  he  was  sitting  in  the 
stoop  of  the  door.  I  certainly  should  not  have  recollected 
him,  had  I  not  known  whom  I  expected  to  see.  He  very  soon, 
however,  appeared  much  the  same  he  used  to  do,  excepting 
the  inroads  that  time  had  made  on  the  features  of  his  face. 
He  urged  me  to  spend  some  time  with  him,  hut  it  was  not  in 
my  power. 

I  also  called  on  my  classmate,  Colonel  Hezekiah  Wyllys.'^ 
He  lives  with  his  father,  Colonel  Wyllys,  the  Secretary  of  the 
State,  in  an  elegant  seat  just  outside  the  city,  situated  on  a  high 
eminence  which  overlooks  the  city  and  commands  a  most  en- 
chanting prospect  of  the  river,  meandering  through  rich 
meadows  and  fertile  fields,  for  ten  or  fifteen  miles.  The  land- 
scape from  this  seat  far  exceeds  any  I  have  ever  seen  in  any 
part  of  the  country.  My  good  old  friend  did  not  recognize 
me  for  some  time,  for  I  was  determined  not  to  tell  him  my 
name.  At  length  he  recollected  me ;  and  so  much  were  his 
tender  passions  moved,  that  he  could  not  refrain  from  tears. 
We  had  heen  particularly  intimate  at  college,  lived  together 
two  years  in  the  same  chamber,  and  the  firmest  friend- 
ship and  afi'ection  had  subsisted  between  us  during  the 
whole  of  our  residence  at  college.  Our  attachment  had 
been  cemented  by  a  similar  taste  for  the  same  course 
of  studies,  which  we  generally  pursued  together,  and  were 
companions  in  our  amusements  and  parties  of  pleasure.  It 
was  my  intention  not  to  alight ;  but  such  was  his  im- 
portunity, or  rather  force,  that  I  could  not  withstand  it.  His 
lady,  who  is  beautiful  and  amiable,  received  me  with  great 
politeness.  She  is  much  younger  than  himself,  for  he  entered 
into  the  connubial  state  late  in  life,  having  been  married  but 
three  years.  We  spent  two  or  three  hours  in  running  over 
college  scenes,  which  he  seemed  to  dwell  upon  with  peculiar 

*Col.  Hezekiah  Wyllys  was  the  third  son  of  Hon.  George  Wyllys 
and  Mary,  daughter  of  Rev.  Timothy  and  Dorothy  (Lamb)  Woodbridge. 
Hezekiah  was  horn  1747;  graduated  at  Yale,  1765;  (Jolonel  of  a  Con- 
necticut regiment  in  the  Kevolutioii  ;  mariied  Amelia  Trumbull.  He 
lived  in  the  old  Wylly.s  house  (Hartfoi'd)  on  Charter  C>ak  Hill,  and  was 
the  last  of  tlie  name  to  reside  there.  Soon  after  his  death,  the  estate, 
which  had  belonged  to  the  Wyllyses  since  1636,  passed  into  other  hands. 
He  died  March  29,  1827. — New  Eng.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Beg.  {Jan.,  KSSo). 


212  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

satisfaction,  and  in  givin";  each  otlier  the  history  of  what  had 
passed  since  we  left  our  Alma  Mater.  With  the  greatest 
difficulty  I  took  my  leave,  hut  not  without  promising,  if  it 
■was  possible,  to  spend  two  or  three  days  with  him  on  my  return. 
.  At  Wethersfield  I  called  on  Mr.  Marsh,  who  urged 
me  to  spend  the  Sabbath  with  him,  but  it  was  my  fixed  deter- 
mination to  reach  Middletown  this  evening.  I  ardently  wished 
for  more  time,  but  was  able  to  spend  but  a  few  minutes  with 
him.  In  no  instance  have  I  ever  seen  the  baneful  effects  of 
time  so  visible  on  youth  and  beauty  as  in  Mrs.  Marsh.  She 
w\as  a  sister  of  my  classmate  Grant,  and  of  my  particular 
acquaintance  while  at  college.  Her  beauty  and  accomplish- 
ments were  as  much  celebrated  as,  perhaps,  any  young  lady 
in  the  state.  But  her  charms  were  greatly  heightened  by  the 
addition  of  a  five  thousand  pound  fortune,  which  has  now  lost 
all  its  influence.  She  was  certainly  very  pretty,  but  she  is 
now  extremely  ugly.  Every  feature,  every  air,  is  totally 
changed,  and  not  the  most  distant  trace  of  Nancy  Grant  is 
left.  It  is  to  me  the  more  extraordinary,  as  she  has  ever 
lived  in  affluence  and  ease,  nor  been  exercised  with  any  kind 
of  adversity.  She  is  about  forty.  Such  is  the  fate  of  mor- 
tals. Youth  and  beauty  must  fade,  and  age,  with  its  withered 
wrinkles,  will  make  its  encroachments  on  the  fairest  complex- 
ions. Wethersfield  is  a  pleasant  village,  situated  on  a  rather 
elevated  plain ;  the  streets  spacious,  and  the  houses  elegant. 
In  every  part  is  the  appearance  of  wealth,  which  is  almost 
wholly  derived  from  the  cultivation  of  onions. .  Mr.  Marsh 
lives  in  a  style  much  above  his  brethren  in  general,  and 
abounds  in  every  convenience  of  life. 

Next  to  Wethersfield  is  Rocky  Hill,  somewhat  of  a  village, 
but  consists  principally  of  farmers,  who  appear  to  roll  in  lux- 
ury. Their  houses  are  large  and  neat,  the  land  most  fruitful ; 
a  good  proportion  of  its  produce  is  onions.  Stopped  at  Will- 
iams' tavern,  a  very  indiff"erent  house ;  8(?.  As  I  passed  on 
to  Middletown,  about  a  mile  before  I  came  to  the  upper 
houses  (so  called),  I  found  myself  on  an  eminence,  although  I 
had  not  been  sensible  of  ascending  any  considerable  hill. 
The  prospect  to  the  south  was  most  extensive,  I  judged  not 
less  than  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  213 

The  landscape  appeared  to  me  of  a  very  peculiar  style. 
The  scene  was  truly  picturesque  and  romantic.  The  effect 
was  greatly  hightened  by  the  particular  situation  of  the  sun, 
which  was  then  about  half  an  hour  high.  The  distant  shad- 
ows were  protracted,  and  a  thin  haziness  bordered  the  land- 
scape near  the  horizon,  and  spread  a  dubious  vail  from  side  to 
side.  This  greatly  hightened  the  beauty  of  distant  objects. 
It  hid  nothing,  but  sweetened  the  hues  of  nature,  gave  a  con- 
sequence to  every  distant  object,  by  giving  it  a  more. indis- 
tinct form,  corrected  the  glare  of  colors,  softened  the  harsh- 
ness of  lines,  and,  above  all,  threw  over  the  landscape  that 
harmonizing  tint,  which  blended  the  whole  into  unity  and  re- 
pose. In  the  foreground  was  Middletown  upper  houses,  a  small 
but  compact  village,  with  a  handsome  Meeting  House  near  the 
center,  situated  just  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  On  my  left  was  Con- 
necticut River,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  breadth,  and  at  the 
distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  top  of  the  hill, 
rolling  her  waters,  with  a  slow,  majestic  pace,  through  the 
center  of  the  landscape,  toward  the  southern  horizon.  The 
river  often  hides  itself  by  its  numerous  windings  behind  small 
hills  and  risino;  o-rounds,  and  as  often  at  small  distances  dis- 
plays  itself  in  diff'usive  openings — thus  alternately  concealed, 
and  then  bursting  into  view  in  diff'erent  directions,  it  makes 
a  serpentine  course  through  the  whole  extent  of  the  prospect, 
until  it  seemed  to  be  lost  in  the  southern  horizon.  From 
each  side  the  river  the  land  gradually  rises  Avith  an  easy  slope 
to  the  distant  horizon,  forming  a  long,  spreading  valley,  in  the 
bottom  of  which  is  the  general  course  of  the  river.  In  the 
distant  western  horizon  the  Farmington  mountains  raise  their 
detached  heads,  almost  lost  in  the  azure  sky,  and  added  great 
beauty  to  the  variegated  scene.  Two  miles  below  the  upper 
houses  is  the  city  of  Middletown.  The  shipping  at  the  wharves, 
the  steeples  in  the  city,  and  compact  ranges  of  houses,  painted 
with  various .  colors,  with  trees  interspersed  among  them,  pro- 
duced a  most  amusing  eS"ect.  The  extended  tract  of  country, 
beyond  the  city,  and  on  each  side  of  the  river,  is  varied  with 
hills  and  valleys  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Large  houses 
and  barns,  in  some  places  near  together,  in  others  more  scat- 
tered, extensive  fields  of  grain  ripe  for  harvest,  lesser  fields 


214  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

of  Indian  corn  of  the  deepest  green,  plats  of  grass  land  and  pas- 
tures of  a  livelier  verdure,  orchards  of  fruit  trees,  and  groves 
of  Avood-land  form  the  back-ground  of  this  finished  picture. 

This  rich  variety,  in  numerous  forms,  was  greatly  softened 
by  distance,  the  state  of  the  air  and  situation  of  the  sun,  for 
farm-houses  and  ordinary  buildings  lost  all  their  vulgarity  of 
shape,  and  were  scattered  about  in  formless  spots  through  the 
distance.  It  is  inconceivable  what  richness  of  beauty  the 
whole  tract,  when  melted  together  into  one  view,  exhibited. 
The  first  thought  that  struck  me  was  that  this  vast  tract 
was  filled  with  gentlemen's  country-seats,  surrounded  with  ex- 
tensive gardens,  fruit  trees,  and  groves.  In  addition  to  this 
sylvan  scene  the  different  views  of  the  river  exhibited  a  great 
number  of  vessels,  some  large,  others  small,  sailing  up  and 
down — some  appeared  to  be  sailing  among  the  trees.  I  fancied 
myself  in  Elysian  fields,  and  gazed  with  delighted  astonish- 
ment until  the  sun  was  set  and  the  sable  curtain  of  night  was 
so  far  drawn  as  to  close  the  enchanting  scene. 

From  the  lower  houses  to  the  city  the  road  passes  close  on 
the  bank  of  the  river,  perfectly  level  and  smooth — the  side  next 
the  lots  of  interval  lined  for  two  miles  with  the  tallest  and 
straightest  cotton-wood  trees  I  ever  saw.  The  lots  of  interval 
aj'e  narrow,  but  very  long,  and  divided  by  rows  of  the  same  trees. 

I  arrived  at  General  Parsons'  *  before  day-light-in,  but  it 
was  too  dark  to  make  any  observations  on  the  city.  He  lives 
in  the  main  street,  opposite  the  church.  His  house  is  large 
and  his  situation  delightful. 

The  General  was  very  complaisant,  and  insisted  on  my  lodg- 
ing with  him.  He  sent  his  servant  immediately  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Huntington,  to  inform  him  of  my  being  in  town,  who  in 
return  requested  the  General  to  come  with  me  in  the  morning 
to  his  home.  Middletown  is  15  miles  from  Hartford.  Jour- 
neyed 35  miles  ;  175  miles  from  Hamilton. 

*  Major-General  Samuel  Holclen  Parsons,  born  at  Lyme.  Connecti- 
cut, May  14,  1737;  graduated  at  Harvard,  1756;  took  an  active  part  in 
the'Eevolutionary  War,  and  in  17n5  negotiated  a  treaty  with  the  west- 
ern tribes.  In  1787  was  chosen  a  director  of  the  Ohio  Company,  and 
was  appointed  a  United  States  judge  in  the  North-western  Territory. 
He  was  drowned  in  descending  the  rapids  of  Big  Beaver,  Nov.  I  7,  1789, 
aged  52  years. — See  HildretJis  Lives  Early  Settlers. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  215 

Sunday,  July  1.  This  morning  General  Parsons  introduced 
me  to  Mr.  Huntington,  but  engaged  me  to  dine  "with  him.  I 
preached  in  the  morning  and  afternoon.  Mr.  Huntington's 
Meeting  House  is  a  very  large  but  ancient  fabric.  The  house 
was  crowded  and  the  people  in  general  dressed  in  a  very  tasty 
manner.  It  was  Mr.  Huntington's  communion,  and  I  was 
pleased  to  see  that  his  church  was  so  large  as  nearly  to  fill  the 
whole  body  of  the  Meeting  House.  The  greater  part  of  the 
married  people  in  his  congregation,  I  believe,  belong  to  his 
church,  and  I  was  astonished  to  observe  the  great  number  of 
men  who  appeared  to  be  over  seventy. 

I  drank  tea  and  spent  the  afternoon  with  Mr.  Huntington. 
He  is  sociable  and  agreeable,  and  his  acquirements  and  natural 
ability  eminent,  though  I  presume  he  is  not  \qyj  popular  as  a 
preacher,  having  somewhat  of  a  hesitancy  in  his  delivery.  He 
is  the  brother  of  Governor  Huntington  and  Dr.  Huntington. 
He  commenced  two  years  before  I  entered  college.  I  spent 
the  evening  at  General  Parsons',  in  company  with  my  good  old 
friend,  Mr.  Plumb,  who  has  left  the  desk  for  the  bar,  and  is  set 
down  as  an  attorney  in  this  city.  Mr.  Russell,  a  late  tutor, 
and  several  other  gentlemen,  spent  the  evening  with  us.  Mrs. 
Parsons,  who  appears  to  be  an  amiable  lady,  of  rather  a  serious 
turn,  treated  me  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  attention.  .  .  . 

3Ionday,  July  2.  It  was  9  o'clock  this  morning  before 
General  Parsons  and  I  had  settled  all  our  matters  with  respect 
to  my  business  with  Congress.  He  favored  me  with  a  large 
number  of  letters  to  members  of  Congress  and  other  gentle- 
men in  New  York.  Middletown  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the 
declivity  of  a  hill,  and  extends  along  the  banks  of  the  river. 
It  has  an  eastern  aspect,  but  does  not  command  a  very  ex- 
tended view.  It  is  laid  out  in  oblong  squares.  The  streets 
are  wide,  and  in  some  of  them  are  beautiful  rows  of  trees, 
mostly  button-wood,  on  each  side  of  the  street.  The  houses 
are  in  general  well  built,  but  the  flat  extended  caps  over  their 
doors,  though  very  convenient,  are  far  from  being  ornamental, 
and  are  certainly  inconsistent  with  the  established  rules  of 
architecture.  Many  of  the  lots  are  not  yet  built  upon.  At 
the  northern  end  of  the  city  is  a  walk  of  two  rows  of  button- 
wood  trees,  from  the  front  gate  of  a  gentleman's  house  down 


216  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

to  a  summer-house  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  by  far  the  most 
beautiful  I  ever  saw.  He  permits  the  people  of  the  city  to 
improve  it  as  a  mall.  Although  the  city  appears  well,  yet  it 
by  no  means  corresponds  with  the  view  it  exhibits  from  the 
hill  above  the  upper  houses. 

From  Middletown,  I  passed  through  a  pai-t  of  Durham,  a 
hilly  and  rather  thinly  inhabited  tract ;  the  soil  in  general 
rich  and  the  produce  large.  I  was  diverted  on  the  way,  in 
seeing  a  farmer  plowing  among  his  corn  with  four  oxen  and 
two  horses.  It  was  a  piece  of  ground  newly  cleared,  and  it 
seemed  to  be  his  intention  to  cut  through  the  roots  that  re- 
mained in  the  ground,  for  his  plow  was  equal  in  size  and 
strength  to  his  teams.  Baited  my  horse  at  a  house  called  a 
tavern,  but  by  no  means  deserved  the  name,  eleven  miles  from 
Middletown  ;  3c^.  Passed  through  Wallingford.  Met  with  a 
shepherd  on  the  road,  tending  an  immense  flock  of  sheep.  I 
judged  there  were  not  less  than  1,000.  The  compact  part 
of  the  town  is  situated  on  a  narrow  ridge  of  a  long  hill. 
The  streets  wide  ;  many  of  the  houses  well  built.  Near  the 
center  are  three  Meeting  Houses  within  a  few"  rods  of  each 
other.  Here  the  soil  changes  abruptly,  and  from  hence  to 
New  Haven  it  is  very  thin  and  sandy,  but  produces  tolerable 
crops  of  rye  and  beans.  The  fields  are,  most  of  them,  in 
large  commons. 

Made  my  stage  at  North  Haven  bridge ;  Todd's.  This  tav- 
ern has  nothing  inviting  in  its  appearance,  but  I  had  the  good 
luck  to  get  a  very  good  dinner — a  veal  cutlet  and  broiled 
chicken,  with  green  peas.  Examined  several  plants  I  had  col- 
lected, for  the  heat  was  too  intense  for  riding.  Waited  for  the 
air  to  become  a  little  cooler.  North  Haven  is  now  incorpo- 
rated into  a  town.  There  is  a  Meeting  House  and  a  Church 
of  England.  The  houses  are  few  and  have  the  genuine  marks 
of  poverty,  very  small  and  out  of  repair,  and  the  barns  in  a 
shattered  state.  Nine  miles  from  the  house  I  called  at  in 
Durham.     Bill,  l.s-.  lOd. 

Went  on  to  New  Haven,  a  little  after  3  o'clock  ;  fine  road  ; 
eight  miles.  Took  lodgings  at  Miles'  tavern,  near  the  center 
of  the  city,  just  below  the  market,  on  the  public  square ;  sign 
of  the  Lion.     This  tavern  is  kept  in  an  elegant  style.     The 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  217 

house  has  good  accommodations ;  the  stables  are  good,  and 
well  supplied  with  hostlers.  After  I  had  waited  on  a  barber, 
I  paid  my  compliments  to  Dr.  Stiles,*  the  President  of  the 
college.  The  doctor  was  just  coming  out  from  his  gate,  going 
to  the  chapel  to  attend  evening  prayers.  I  begged  leave  to 
accompany  him,  and  for  the  first  time  attended  prayers  in  the 
college  chapel  since  I  took  my  degree.  I  declined  a  seat  in  the 
desk.  The  President  introduced  me  to  the  stranger's  pew.  The 
students  were  about  160,  and  the  several  classes  made  a  very 
respectable  appearance.  The  dress  and  manners  of  the  senior 
class  were  genteel  and  graceful.  A  view  of  the  seats,  pews, 
and  gallery,  called  up  a  series  of  reflections  on  the  hours  I 
had  spent  within  those  walls,  at  public  worship,  in  public  ex- 
aminations every  quarter,  and  various  exhibitions,  that  sensi- 
bly moved  my  tenderer  passions.  After  prayers,  the  President 
introduced  me  to  the  tutors,  Mr.  Baldwin,  Mr.  Fitch,  Mr. 
Holmes,  and  Mr.  Danielson.  We  all  went  to  Mr.  Holmes' 
chambers,  where  we  spent  a  couple  of  hours  very  agreeably. 
The  conversation  was  wholly  confined  to  literary  subjects  and 
the  present  state  of  American  colleges.  The  President  pro- 
posed a  walk  to  Dr.  Wales',  Professor  of  Divinity.  He  had 
gone  out.  We  therefore  returned  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
the  evening  at  the  President's  house.  The  Doctor  and  Mrs. 
Stiles  Avere  extremely  urgent  that  I  should  take  a  bed  there, 
but  having  previously  engaged  one  at  the  tavern,  I  declined. 
They  engaged  me  for  breakfast  in  the  morning.  Miles'  tavern 
is  8  miles  from  N.  Haven  bridge.  My  journey  to-day,  28 
miles ;  distance  from  home,  203  miles. 

Tuesday,  July  3.  Very  early  this  morning,  took  a  walk 
through  the  principal  street  of  the  lower  part  of  the  city.  It 
seems  to  have  been  nearly  built  new  since  I  left  the  town.     I 

*Hev.  Dr.  Ezra  Stiles  (D.D.,  Edinburgh,  1765;  LL.D.,  N.  Y.  (oliege, 
1784),  born,  North  Haven,  Coiiu.,  December  15,  1727;  died  at  New 
Haven,  May  12,  1795.  Made  President  of  Yale,  June  23,  1778,  filling 
this  post  until  his  death.  When  a  tutor.  Dr.  Franklin  sent  to  Yale  an 
electrical  appai'atus,  and  he  and  his  ieliow  tutt)is  performed  the  first 
electrical  experiments  ever  i>erlornietl  in  Xew  England.  Dr.  Stiles  was 
undoubtedly  one  of  the  jturest  and  best  gifted  men  of  his  age.  One 
daughter  married  Rev.  Abiel  Holmes;  Ruth  marrie<t  Rev.  Caleb  Gan- 
net. — Drake  s  Did.  Am.  Biog. 


218  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

was  surprised  to  find  that  few  objects  seemed  to  be  familiar — 
that  the  traces  of  this  part  of  the  town,  where  I  had  made  so 
many  pleasant  walks  during  my  college  life,  were  almost  en- 
tirely eradicated  from  my  mind.  Few  of  the  remaining  houses 
looked  as  thev  used  to.  The  lonw  Avharf  was  the  most  natural, 
though  much  enlarged.  On  this  wharf  is  a  sailors'  grog-shop, 
which  has  a  sign  that  is  truly  striking  and  diverting.  It  is  a 
large  board  nailed  to  the  end  of  the  shop  and  extended  over 
the  wharf.  The  painting  is  executed  in  a  masterly  manner. 
The  design  is  a  table  with  bottles,  glasses,  lemons,  etc.,  and  a 
huge  bowl  of  punch.  A  sailor  with  a  piece  of  cordage  hang- 
ing over, one  arm,  the  end  in  his  hand,  is  clasping  the  bowl 
with  both  arms,  in  the  posture  of  lifting  with  all  his  might. 
He  is  looking  down  the  wharf  with  an  air  of  humor,  and  on  a 
label  which  goes  from  his  mouth  are  these  words  :  "  Halloo, 
brother  Jack-tar  !  come,  lend  a  hand  to  strap  this  block." 
Mansfield's  row  and  Beauntiqueu  Square  appeared  more  as 
they  used  to  than  any  other  part  of  the  town.  Inclosing  the 
burying-ground,  and  erecting  a  number  of  public  buildings  on 
the  public  square,  has  greatly  altered  it.  But  the  most  affect- 
ing change  to  me  is  the  loss  of  Mother  Yale.  Yale  College 
was  by  far  the  most  sightly  building  of  any  one  that  belonged 
to  the  University,  and  most  advantageously  situated.  It  gave 
an  air  of  grandeur  to  the  others.  There  are  now  only  Con- 
necticut Hall,  the  Chapel,  which  is  three  stories,  containing 
the  Library  and  Cabinet,  also  the  Dining-hall  and  Kitchen. 
These  are  all  built  of  brick,  but  so  situated  as  to  make  very  little 
show.  The  city  of  New  Haven  covers  a  large  piece  of  ground, 
a  little  descending  toward  the  sea,  with  a  southern  aspect.  It 
is  laid  out  in  regular  squares,  Avith  a  public  square  near  the 
center.  Its  streets  are  tolerably  wide,  and  some  of  them  or- 
namented with  rows  of  trees.  There  is  a  row  of  trees  set 
round  the  public  square,  which  were  small  while  I  was  at  col- 
lege, but  are  now  large,  and  add  much  to  its  beauty ;  a  row 
across  the  center  has  been  very  lately  set  out,  in  a  line  Avith 
the  State  House,  two  large  Meeting  Houses  and  the  Grammar 
School.  Within  the  square,  and  on  the  borders  of  others  ad- 
joining, are  six  steeples  and  cupolas  on  public  buildings, 
within  a  very  small  compass  of  ground.     These  steeples,  Avhen 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  219 

you  approach  the  city  in  whatever  direction,  have  an  agreea- 
ble effect.  The  houses  in  general  are  good,  some  of  them  ele- 
gant, and  a  great  proportion  of  them  built  -with  brick.  The 
streets  are  generally  dry,  but  very  sandy,  and  will,  probably, 
never  be  paved,  as  it  must  be  attended  with  great  expense. 
The  Harbor  is  good,  and  the  shipping  very  considerable,  prin- 
cipally in  the  coasting  and  West  India  trade. 

Breakfasted  this  morning  with  Dr.  Stiles.  He  has  four 
daughters,  unmarried,  very  agreeable.  His  only  son  is  in  the 
law,  settled  in  the  country.  A  Miss  Channing,  a  young  lady 
from  Newport,  and  of  very  uncommon  literary  accomplish- 
ments, was  here  on  a  visit.  She  not  only  reads  but  speaks 
French,  Latin,  and  Greek,  Avitli  great  ease,  and  has  furnished 
her  mind  with  a  general  knowledge  of  the  Avhole  circle  of  sci- 
ence, particularly  Astronomy  and  Natural  Philosophy.  She 
has  likewise  a  high  taste  for  the  fine  arts,  and  discourses  with 
great  judgment  on  eloquence,  oratory,  painting,  sculpture,  etc. 
She  is  very  sociable,  knows  how  to  take  advantage  of  every 
incident  to  render  herself  agreeable,  and  no  subject  seems  to 
come  amiss.  Her  style  is  exceedingly  correct  and  elegant, 
without  the  least  symptom  of  affectation..  How^  l^ig^^ly  orna- 
mental is  such  an  education  to  a  female  character  when  con- 
nected with  the  softer  graces  and  politeness  of  manners  ! 

Immediately  after  breakfast,  the  tutors  came  in  to  invite  me 
to  the  College.  Dr.  Stiles  accompanied  us.  We  took  a  view 
of  the  Library,  the  Philosophy  Chamber,  and  Cabinet.  The 
Library  is  small ;  the  collection  consists  principally  of  rather 
antiquated  authors.  The  Philosophical  apparatus  is  still  less 
valuable — an  air-pump,  tolerably  good ;  a  reflecting  telescope, 
wholly  useless,  for  the  large  and  small  mirrors  are  covered 
with  rust,  occasioned  by  poking  in  greasy  fingers ;  a  mi- 
croscope of  the  compound  kind,  but  very  ancient ;  a  miserable 
electrical  machine  ;  a  large,  homely  orrery,  made  by  one  of 
the  students ;  a  hydrostatic  balance,  and  a  few  other  arti- 
cles, not  worth  naming.  A  handsome  sum,  however,  is  now- 
being  collected  for  purchasing  a  complete  Philosophical  appa- 
ratus. The  Cabinet  is  a  good  collection,  but  very  badly  disposed. 

I  had  intended  to  proceed  on  my  journey,  but  the  time 
passed   insensibly  in   the  agreeable   company  of  these  gentle- 


220  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

men,  who  arc  truly  literary  characters,  and  I  consented  to 
tarry  to  dinner.  Indeed  I  could  not  deny  myself  the  pleas- 
ure of  spending  a  little  time  at  the  place  where  I  received 
my  education,  and  from  Avhich  I  had  been  absent  so  many 
years. 

At  11  o'clock  the  tutors  attended  their  classes,  and  the 
Doctor  and  I  returned  to  his  house.  I  sent  for  my  trunk  and 
showed  the  Doctor  and  his  lady,  and  the  young  ladies,  my  bo- 
tanical apparatus  and  books,  with  which  they  were  all  highly 
pleased,  having  never  seen  any  thing  of  the  kind  before.  I 
had  collected  a  number  of  flowers  the  day  before,  which  I  had 
not  had  time  to  examine.  They  were  perfectly  fresh  in  my 
botanical  box.  From  them  I  gave  a  short  lecture  on  the  parts 
of  fructification,  separating  and  exhibiting  the  parts  at  the 
same  time,  which  was  highly  amusing  to  the  company.  The 
Doctor  was  extremely  pleased  with  my  "  Hobby-horse,"  and 
w^as  determined  to  mount  him,  and  have  a  ride  himself.  I  had 
to  explain  technical  terms,  and  construe  crabbed  Linnsen  Latin 
for  an  hour  on  the  stretch.  At  length  a  call  to  dinner  jDut  an 
end  to  my  fatigue.  But  the  "  Hobby-horse  "  Avas  introduced 
at  table,  and  each  of  the  company  must  have  a  ride  in  turn. 
After  dinner  I  was  determined  to  set  out  immediately,  but 
there  was  no  such  thing  as  getting  away.  We  returned  to  the 
microscope  and  plants. 

Dr.  Wales  came  in  to  see  me,  and  spend  the  afternoon  ;  he 
joined  the  Doctor  in  pressing  me  to  spend  the  next  day,  4th 
of  July,  in  the  city,  which  was  to  be  celebrated,  by  order  of 
the  corporation  of  the  city,  with  great  military  parade,  an  ora- 
tion in  the  brick  Meeting  House,  a  public  dinner  in  the  State 
House,  and  a  public  ball  in  the  evening.  My  inclination  to 
coipply  was  sufiiciently  strong,  but  the  inconveniences  I  might 
suffer  by  losing  so  much  time  induced  me  absolutely  to  de- 
cline. Such,  however,  was  the  zeal  of  the  Doctor,  that  before 
I  left  his  house,  and  by  his  procuring,  I  suppose,  a  billet  was 
sent  me  by  the  Mayor  of  the  city,  to  dine  the  next  day  wnth  the 
Governors  of  the  College,  Corporation  of  the  City,  etc.  I 
was  obliged  to  return  an  answer  directly  opposed  to  my  feel- 
ings, and  excused  myself  from  accepting  the  invitation,  as  I 
was  under  the  necessity  of  leaving  the  city  that  evening.     As 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  221 

I  was  determined  to  go,  Dr.  Stiles  and  Dr.  Wales  were  so 
complaisant  as  to  propose  to  accompany  me  as  far  as  West 
Haven  Meeting  House,  six  miles  from  the  city,  which  they 
did.  It  was  Avith  the  greatest  reluctance  that  I  took  my  leave 
of  this  very  agreeable  family,  where  I  had  been  shown  so 
much  politeness  and  attention.  Bill  at  Miles'  tavern,  Ss.; 
barber,  Is. 

At  West  Haven  took  my  leave  of  Dr.  Stiles  and  Dr.  Wales. 
It  was  now  sunset.  Rode  on  to  Milford,  10  miles  from  New 
Haven,  213  miles  from  home.  The  road  tolerably  good  ;  some 
part  of  the  way  woody,  and  none  of  it  very  thickly  inhabited. 
The  soil  rather  light  and  sandy.  Called  on  my  classmate, 
Buckingham,  who  is  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  one  of  the 
Judges  of  the  Inferior  Court  for  the  County  of  New  Haven. 
He  is  a  wealthy  farmer,  and  lives  in  a  handsome  house  near 
the  Meeting  House.  Mj  intention  was  to  lodge  with  him,  but 
unfortunatel}^  he  was  gone  from  home.  Went  on  to  Glinney's 
tavern,  the  other  side  of  the  Meeting  House,  and  took  lodg- 
ings. Just  as  I  was  sitting  down  to  supper  my  friend  B.  came 
in ;  being  told  that  somebody  had  inquired  for  him  at  his 
door,  he  came  over  to  see  who  it  was.  It  was  some  time  be- 
fore he  could  call  me  bv  name,  thoua'h  he  said  he  knew  me  at 
first  glance.  This  Avas  more  than  I  could  say  of  him  ;  for, 
had  he  not  asked  me  if  I  was  the  gentleman  that  called  at  his 
door,  I  should  not  have  had  the  most  distant  thought  of  him. 
We  spent  the  evening,  until  11  o'clock,  very  agreeably.  After 
a  little  time  his  countenance,  and  every  thing  about  him,  be- 
came familiar.  He  urged  me  to  take  a  bed  Avith  him ;  but  as 
it  Avas  late,  and  I  must  ride  very  early  in  the  morning,  I  de- 
clined. 

Dr.  Carrington,  avIio  Avas  tAvo  years  after  me  in  college,  and 
Avho  lives  in  this  toAvn,  came  in  just  after  Mr.  Buckingham, 
and  spent  the  evening  Avith  us.  This  tavern  is  very  indiffer- 
ent, though  the  people  seemed  very  obliging.  My  night's 
sleep  Avas  greatly  disturbed  by  the  howling  of  dogs,  in-doors 
and  out. 

Wednesday,  July  4,  Independence.  Rose  very  early,  and 
went  on  to  Stratford.  Milford  is  a  large  toAvn,  mostly  farm- 
ers.    Near  the  Meeting  House  are  a  number  of  houses,  some- 


222       •  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

what  compact,  but  the  ground  is  broken  and  rocky.  The  land 
in  some  parts  of  the  town  is  very  good.  Four  miles  from 
Milford  Meeting  House  is  Stratford  River,  one  quarter  of  a 
mile  wide,  and  navigable  above  the  ferrv  about  ten  miles,  to 
Danbury.     Fare  at  the  ferry.  Is.  '2d. 

On  the  opposite  side  is  Stratford.  The  compact  part  of  the 
town  is  about  a  mile  from  the  ferry.  A  very  pretty  village  of 
houses  on  a  plain.  A  Church  of  England,  and  a  handsome 
Meetino;  House.  Dr.  Johnson's  seat  is  in  this  town.  His 
house  and  gardens  appear  very- well. 

Breakfasted  at  Blackleach's  tavern,  near  the  church.  Called 
for  a  few  minutes  on  my  classmate.  Walker.  He  is  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  lives  in  an  elegant  house,  and  has  a  large  estate, 
principally  in  farms.  Happily  for  him  ho  had  a  father  born 
before  him.  He  received  me  politely,  and  urged  me  to  spend 
some  time  with  him.  He  appeared  the  most  natural  of  any 
of  my  college  acquaintances  I  have  yet  seen.  ...  It  af- 
forded me  pleasure  to  hear  that  he  sustained  a  very  fine  char- 
acter, and  was  one  of  the  principal  men  in  the  town.  It  is, 
indeed,  no  small  satisfaction  to  find,  and  to  hear,  that  most  of 
my  classmates  support  respectable  characters  in  life,  and  a 
great  proportion  of  them  are  employed  in  public  life.  I  had 
eight  classmates  from  this  town,  and  only  one  remains  in  it. 
Bill,  Is.  \d. 

Passed  over  Newfield  ferry,  two  miles  from  Stratford ;  fare, 
10(7.  A  great  proportion  of  the  land  between  Stratford  and 
this  ferry  is  improved  with  flax.  The  soil  is  rich  and  strong, 
requiring  little  or  no  manure.  The  roads  fine.  Over  the 
.ferry,  at  the  right,  is  Stratfield,  a  considerable  village,  with  a 
church  and  Meeting  House.  At  some  distance  from  the  ferry 
is  a  very  long  bridge,  which  I  judged  to  be  more  than  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  in  length;  at  a  small  distance  from  this  is  another, 
of  shorter  extent. 

Passed  through  Fairfield,  eight  miles  from  Stratford.  .  .  . 
The  town  was  burnt  by  the  British  troops,  but  is  now  in  a  con- 
siderable degree  rebuilt.  It  is  situated  on  a  plain,  but  in  its 
present  state  makes  no  appearance.  There  is,  however,  a 
considerable  cluster  of  houses  in  the  center  of  the  town ;  but 
the    houses    are    generally  rather   indiff"erent.     The    Meeting 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  223 

House  stands  near  the  center  of  them,  and  is  a  decent  buikl- 
ing.  It  was  my  intention  to  call  on  Mr.  Eliot,  the  minister, 
but  found  he  lived  at  Greenfield,  a  parish  two  miles  distant 
from  his  own.  He  moved  out  in  the  time  of  the  Avar,  on  to  a 
fafm,  and  has  not  returned.  Greenfield  is  on  the  right,  at 
some  distance  from  the  post  road,  most  beautifully  situated  on 
a  high  eminence.  Mr.  Dwight  is  the  minister.  Made  my 
next  stage  at  Morehouse  tavern,  four  miles  from  Fairfield,  a 
miserable,  dirty  tavern  ;  bill,  M. 

The  road  this  morning  has  been  fine,  in  view  of  the  Sound. 
The  lands  rich,  producing  immense  quantities  of  flax,  some 
grains,  and  Indian  corn.  The  farmers  appear  to  do  very  little 
labor.  Called  at  Mr.  Ripley's  door,  a  very  particular  college 
acquaintance,  two  years  before  me.  He  is  settled  in  the  min- 
istry in  Green's  farms.  His  parish,  I  believe,  is  rather  indif- 
ferent, but  he  has  a  good  farm.  He  urged  me  to  stop  and 
dine  with  him,  but  as  he  was  very  busy  making  hay,  I  excused 
myself  and  went  on  to  Norwalk,  nine  miles  from  my  last  stage. 
The  road  rocky  and  hilly  and  the  land  indiff'erent.  Put  up  at 
Reed's  tavern.  Very  hot.  This  is  a  tolerable  tavern.  Dined 
on  cutlet  of  veal  and  green  peas.  NorAvalk  is  a  very  compact 
place,  at  the  head  of  a  navigable  creek.  There  seems  to  be  a 
greater  number  of  handsome  stores  than  dwelling-houses,  and 
most  of  them  inhabited  by  families.  The  building  are  all  new, 
for  this  town,  and  almost  all  of  the  houses  between  this  and 
Fairfield,  were  burnt  by  the  British.  There  is  no  Meeting 
House.     They  worship  in  a  large  school-house.     Bill,  Is.  4:d. 

My  next  stage  at  Young's,  in  Middlesex,  six  miles.  Very 
hot  and  the  roads  excessively  bad.  This  house  is  very  neat, 
but  I  believe  not  much  used  as  a  tavern.  The  landlord  is  fat 
and  lazy,  but  extremely  knowing,  at  least  in  his  own  opinion  ; 
a  thorough-paced  politician — every  thing  is^vrongly  managed, 
but  he  could  easily  set  all  to  rights,  was  government  committed 
to  him.  Our  country  !  how  much  do  you  suffer  by  not  calling 
into  your  councils  such  wiseacres,  Avho  could  snatch  you  with 
a  jerk  from  the  jaws  of  ruin !  He  is  a  genuine  Connecticut 
tavern-keeper — before  your  horse's  bits  are  out  of  his  mouth, 
the  usual  questions  are  asked  :  What's  your  name  ?  Where 
did  you  come   from?     Where  are  you  going  ?     And,  what's 


224  Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  CuUer. 

your  business  ?  Answer  these  questions,  and  his  curiosity  is 
completely  satisfied  ;  nor  docs  he  wish  to  know  a  syllable  more 
about  you,  only  that  you  will  take  care  to  pay  your  bill — mine 
was  ^d.  At  this  house  I  was  pleased  with  a  number  of  per- 
fectly white  silken  balls,  as  they  appeared  to  be,  suspended  by 
small  threads  along  the  frame  of  the  looking-glass.  They 
were  made  by  taking  off  the  calyx  of  the  flowers  of  the  Thistle 
in  an  early  stage  of  their  blooming. 

The  next  town  is  Stamford,  a  very  pretty  village.  Some 
of  the  houses  make  a  very  good  appearance.  It  is  situated 
on  low  and  rather  broken  ground.  The  Meeting  House  is  the 
greatest  curiosity  I  observed  in  this  place.  It  is  a  very  old 
building,  large,  square  on  the  ground.  The  whole  roof  forms 
the  base  of  the  steeple  in  a  four-square  ;  in  the  middle  is  raised 
a  four-square  tower  of  half  the  size  of  the  whole  house.  This 
tower  has  a  large  round  roof;  from  its  center  is  raised  another 
laro-e  tower,  of  half  the  size  of  the  first  tower :  from  this 
tower  is  raised  a  short  steeple.  This  village  is  three 
miles  from  Young's.  The  road  rocky;  the  land  good;  fine 
orchards. 

Arrived  at  Napp's,  in  Horse  Neck,  about  10  o'clock.  The  ex- 
treme heat  prevented  my  riding  in  the  middle  of  the  day.  His 
house  is  situated  on  a  very  high  hill,  of  most  difficult  access.  At 
a  small  distance  from  his  house,  the  road  ascends  a  precipice  by 
different  windings,  W'hicli  appears  to  me  to  be  nearly  sixty  feet 
high  and  almost  perpendicular.  As  you  approach  it,  it  appears 
inaccessible ;  but  nature  has  formed  crevices  in  certain  direc- 
tions, which  seem  to  have  been  designed  for  a  road,  and  by 
labor  it  has  been  made  tolerably  good.  Both  Napp  and  his 
wife  have  much  the  air  of  a  gentleman  and  lady,  but  keep 
good  attendants,  and  a  house  well  furnished  with  every  thing 
necessary  for  a  tavern.  I  felt  more  anxious  for  my  horse  than 
myself;  but  it  was  very  dark,  and  being  much  fatigued,  I 
wished  to  be  excused  from  going  to  the  stables.  The  hostler 
is  Cuif.  After  he  had  fed  my  horse  with  oats,  I  gave  him  a 
very  serious  charge  to  rub  him  well  down  and  give  him  a  good 
supper.  His  ready  promise  to  do  it  made  me  suspect  him  the 
more.     "  Well,"  says   I,  "  my  lad,  if  you  do  not  take  good 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  225 

care  of  him,  my  liorse  will  certainly  tell  me  in  the  morning, 
and  yon  may  depend  on  a  flogging."  "What?  You  hoss 
tell  you  !  De  debble  !  You  hoss  speak  !  I  no  1/leve  dat." 
"Yes,  Cuff.  Y"ou  shall,  see  what  he  will  do  in  the  morning." 
In  the  morning  Cuff  came,  grinning,  with  my  horse.  "  Now, 
masser,  what  you  hoss  say  !  If  he  say  I  no  give  him  good 
supper,  he  will  lie  like  de  debble." 

This  is  15  miles  from  Reed's,  in  Norwalk  ;  rode  44  miles, 
and  257  miles  from  home.     Bill,  Ss.  4(i.,  Y'ork  currency. 

Thursday/,  July  5.  Rose  very  early  this  morning,  and  was 
on  my  Avay  some  time  before  the  sun  rose.  Road  very  bad  ; 
the  land,  in  general,  rich  and  fertile  ;  the  farms  abound  in 
orchards ;  vast  numbers  of  red  cherry  trees,  set  on  the  sides 
of  the  road,  which  were  loaded  with  fruit,  fully  ripe.  I  re- 
plenished my  carriage  Avith  branches  full  of  ripe  fruit  as  often 
as  I  pleased,  and  ate  until  I  made  myself  almost  sick.  The 
fruit  is  large,  fair,  and  SAveet.  After  I  had  rode  about  three 
miles,  a  gentlemen  overtook  me,  Avho  was  riding  in  a  Whisky, 
and  bound  to  New  Y'^ork.  We  soon  fell  into  conversation.  I 
found  him  very  sociable  and  agreeable.  He  Avas  from  Long 
Island,  and  had  been  journeying  to  the  northern  part  of  Con- 
necticut. We  passed  Byram  River  three  miles  from  Napp's, 
which  is  the  boundary  line  between  the  states  of  Connecticut 
and  NeAv  York.  Three  miles  from  Byram  River  Ave  made  our 
first  stage — Mrs.  Haviland's,  in  Rye,  Avhere  Ave  breakfasted. 
This  house  has  more  the  air  of  a  gentleman's  country-seat  than 
a  tavern.  It  is  a  large,  Avell-built  house,  Avith  a  piazza  extend- 
ing the  Avhole  length  of  the  front,  Avell  finished  and  elegantly 
furnished  ;  handsome  barns,  stables,  and  other  out-houses  ;  a 
spacious  garden,  laid  out  in  a  beautiful  form.  The  OAvner  is 
still  more  extraordinary.  She  is  a  AvidoAV  of  fifty,  in  a  rich, 
gay  dress,  and  affecting  the  airs  of  a  young  girl  of  sixteen. 
She  has  an  only  daughter,  equally  tasty  in  dress,  Avho  is,  at 
least,  approaching  the  old-maid's  row,  but  is  really  handsome. 
When  the  table  Avas  set  for  our  breakfast,  one  Avould  have 
thought  they  intended  it  for  dinner.  It  Avas  furnished  with 
ham,  neat's  tongue,  and  roast  veal,  in  addition  to  a  fine  dish  of 
green  tea,  coffee,  bread  and  butter,  and  good  old  cheese.  The 
15 


226  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

mother  and  daughter  were  very  chatty,  and  we  spent  an  hour 
very  agreeably.     Bill.  2.s.,  York  currency. 

We  rode  through  Mamaroneck,  four  miles  from  Mrs.  Hav- 
iland's,  situated  on  the  side  of  a  navjgable  creek,  -which  re- 
ceives a  small  river,  Avhich  we  forded.  The  next  town  is  New 
Rochelle.  The  houses  in  both  places  are  scattered,  the  land 
rocky,  and  the  roads  bad,  but  the  soil  is  rich.  The  road,  how- 
ever, is  much  better  than  before  we  passed  Byram  River.  We 
then  came  to  East  Chester,  and  made  our  stage  at  Guion's 
tavern,  eleven  miles  from  Mrs.  Haviland's.  Here  is  a  stone 
church,  greatly  injured  by  the  British  troops.  The  windows, 
remarkable  for  their  size,  were  taken  out  and  destroyed,  and 
have  not  since  been  repaired.  On  our  way  to  this  tavern,  my 
fellow  traveler  shoAved  me  several  spots  where  the  British  and 
American  troops  engaged  in  action,  and  entertained  me  with 
the  various  movements  of  the  two  armies  while  they  were  in 
this  vicinity.  Guion's  is  a  tolerable  tavern.  Bill,  l.s-.  It  was 
very  hot,  but  we  proposed  to  make  the  best  of  our  way  to 
New  York. 

About  three  miles  from  Guion's  is  a  river,  which  was  the 
separating  line  between  the  two  armies  for  a  considerable  time. 
The  name  of  the  river  he  had  forgotten.  A  singular  achieve- 
ment is  mentioned  of  a  British  light- horseman,  at  the  bridge 
over  this  river,  which  appeared  to  me  incredible.  The  bridge 
is  high  from  the  Avater  and  the  hutments  at  least  ten  feet 
apart.  This  bridge  Avas  taken  up  by  the  Americans.  It  is 
said  a  light-horseman,  who  had  crossed  the  river  above,  in 
order  to  reconnoiter,  Avas  discovered  near  the  bridge  on  the 
American  side,  and,  closely  pursued  by  a  body  of  horse,  he 
made  for  the  bridge,  but  did  not  know  that  it  Avas  taken  up 
until  he  come  Avithin  a  feAv  yards.  He  had  no  alternative  but 
to  jump  his  horse  over  or  be  made  a  prisoner.  He  preferred 
the  former,  and  clapped  his  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  leaped  him 
from  butment  to  butment,  and  so  made  liis  escape.  On  the 
side,  Avhere  the  British  troops  lay,  the  hills  and  highlands  Avere 
strongly  fortified.  About  two  miles  before  we  came  to  King's 
bridge,  we  had  an  extensive  view  of  the  lofty  shore  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  Hudson  River.  It  is  an  extended  range  of 
mountains  up  and   down  the  river,  Avith  nearly  level  summit, 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  227 

but,  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  appears  to  be  perpendicular, 
and  so  much  as  80  or  100  feet  high.  It  looks  like  a  solid 
rock,  deeply  grooved  in  perpendicular  glades.  The  top  is 
crowned  with  a  growth  of  forest  trees.  On  this  side  of  the 
river  the  lands  are  rather  low,  interspersed  with  swelling  hills, 
and  in  a  state  of  high  cultivation.  Several  manors,  with  the 
villas  of  the  owners,  present  themselves  in  one  view.  These, 
with  the  extended  mountains  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
and  extending  up  and  down  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  afford 
an  unusual  and  pleasing  landscape.  The  western  bank  is  so 
fortified  by  this  range  of  mountains,  from  opposite  to  New 
York,  as  far  up  as  Stony  Point,  forty  or  fifty  miles,  that  it 
proved  a  complete  barrier  against  the  British  troops  during 
the  late  war,  for  they  were  unable  to  land  anywhere  for  so 
great  a  distance  on  the  Jersey  shores. 

King's  bridge  is  built  over  a  narrow  river  which  commu- 
nicates with  the  Hudson  on  the  west  and  Long  Island  Sound 
on  the  east.  The  bridge  is  small,  very  narrow,  and  badly 
built.  It  is  worthy  of  no  kind  of  notice,  except  that  it  forms 
the  pass  from  the  main,  on  to  York  Island,  and  was  for  a  con- 
siderable time  the  line  between  the  two  armies. 

Although  the  river  is  very  narrow,  it  is  deep,  and  the  tide 
runs  rapidly  under  the  bridge,  alternately  both  ways,  as  the 
tide  ebbs  and  flows.  It  is  fifteen  miles  from  the  city  of  New 
York.  As  we  entered  on  York  Island  the  land  is  rocky  and 
broken,  especially  on  the  right,  but  the  road  is  exceedingly 
good.  On  our  way  down  the  island  the  ruins  of  British  en- 
campments and  fortifications  presented  themselves  on  both 
sides  of  the  road,  incessantly,  for  many  miles.  About  a  mile 
from  the  bridge  they  threw  up  immense  works  across  the  island. 
We  also  saw  the  ruins  of  Fort  Washington,  Fort  Independence, 
and  many  other  forts  and  redoubts  built  by  the  Americans. 

M}^  companion  entertained  me  much  with  the  recital  of  the 
various  situations  and  movements  of  the  two  armies  at  differ- 
ent periods,  and  with  the  most  material  incidents  in  the  his- 
tory of  that  part  of  the  American  war.  He  appears  to  be 
perfectly  intelligent  and  well  informed,  much  of  a  gentleman, 
and  of  most  pleasing  address.  He  was  at  different  times  in 
the  country,  and  in  New  York,  in  the   British   and   American 


228  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

encampments.  I  watched  him  "with  every  possible  attention 
to  discover  whether  he  was  a  whig  or  tory,  but  he  was  so 
guarded,  even  in  his  praises  and  censures,  which  on  different 
occasions  he  bestowed  on  the  conduct  of  the  two  armies,  and 
expressed  himself  Avitli  so  much  judgment  and  impartiality, 
that  I  was  unable  to  determine  whether  he  was  for  America 
or  Britain.     However,  I  am  inclined  to  think  he  was  a  whig. 

The  island  of  New  York  is  narrow,  the  land  very  much 
broken,  a  great  part  of  it  so  rock}^  as  to  be  incapable  of  culti- 
vation. Ten  miles  this  side  the  city  is  a  plain  of  good  land, 
called  Harlem  Plain.  On  this  plain,  and  toward  East  River, 
is  a  small  village,  called  Harlem.  The  inhabitants  are  nearly 
all  Dutch,  and  the  houses  are  built  in  the  Dutch  style.  Toward 
the  city  are  a  number  of  elegant  country-seats,  with  large 
orchards,  and  the  land  highly  cultivated,  particularly  their 
gardens.  Two  miles  from  the  city  I  took  leave  of  my  fellow- 
traveler,  who  was  going  to  dine  with  his  brother  at  a  country- 
seat  about  a  mile  and  a  half  out  of  the  road,  but  at  that  time 
full  in  our  view.  Here  we  exchanged  our  names,  which  be- 
fore had  been  unknown  to  each  other,  and  parted  with  appa- 
rent reluctance  on  both  sides  ;  it  was  sincerely  so  on  mine,  for 
a  more  agreeable  companion  I  had  scarcely  ever  met  with. 
His  name  was  Nicholson,  a  merchant,  who  lives  on  the  southern 
side  of  the  large  plains,  on  Long  Island,  about  100  miles 
from  New  York.  Before  I  went  into  the  city  I  made  a  short 
stage  at  a  Dutch  tavern  and  dined.  The  house  was  remarkably 
neat.  .  .  .  Bill,  3s.  About  3  o'clock  I  arrived  at  the 
city  by  the  road  that  enters  through  the  Bowery.  Put  up  my 
horse  at  the  sign  of  the  "  Plow  and  Harrow,"  in  the  Bowery — 
Barnes'.  After  dressing  myself,  took  a  walk  into  the  city. 
When  I  came  to  examine  my  letters  of  introduction,  I  found 
them  so  accumulated  that  I  hardly  knew  which  to  deliver 
first.  As  this  is  rather  a  curiosity  to  me,  I  am  determined  to 
preserve  a  catalogue,  although  only  a  part  are  to  be  delivered 
at  New  York  : 

Hon.  Timothy  Pickering,  Esq.,  Philadelphia ;  Mr.  T.  D. 
Blanchard,  Philadelphia;  Sam'l  Vaughan,  Esq.,  Philadelphia; 
Mr.  John  Vaughan,  Philadelphia ;  Mr.  Hugh  Henderson,  mer- 
chant, New  York ;  Rev.  Dr.  Rogers,  New  York ;  Sir  John  Temple, 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  CiUler.  229 

New  York  ;  Lady  Temple,  New  York  ;  His  Excellency,  Dr. 
Franklin,  Philadelphia ;  Barnabas  Binney,  M.  D.,  Philadel- 
phia;  Benjamin  Rush,  M,  D.,  Philadelphia  ;  John  Morgan,  M. 
D,,  Philadelphia ;  Doctor  D.  Shippen,  Philadelphia ;  Doctor 
Eben'.  Crosby,-  New  York  ;  Hon.  Eben',  Hazard,  Esq.,  New 
York;  Mr.  Benj.  Park,  merchant,  Philadelphia;  Mr.  William 
Ball,  merchant,  Philadelphia ;  Mr.  Robert  Aiken,  printer, 
Philadelphia;  Dr.  Gerardus  Clarkson,  Philadelphia;  Mons. 
Le  Mechard,  Superintendent  French  King's  Botanical  Gar- 
den, New  Jersey  ;  General  Knox,  New  York  ;  Colonel  Carring- 
ton,  member  Congress ;  Colonel  Grayson,  member  Congress ; 
Hon.  Richard  H.  Lee,  Esq.,  member  Congress ;  Hon.  Doctor  Lee, 
member  Board  Treasury ;  Hon.  Wm.  Duer,  Secretary  Board 
Treasury ;  His  Excellency,  General  St,  Clair,  President  of 
Congress ;  Hon.  Melancthon  Smith,  New  York  ;  Hon.  Egb't 
Benson,  member  Congress  ;  Colonel  Richard  Piatt,  New  York  ; 
Colonel  George  Morgan,  Princeton ;  Rev.  Doctor  Smith,  Vice- 
President  of  New  Jersey  College  ;  Rev.  Doctor  Ewing,  Pro- 
vost of  the  College  in  Philadelphia ;  David  Rittenhouse,  Esq., 
Philadelphia ;  General  N.  Webb,  New  York ;  Rev.  Doctor 
Witherspoon,  President  of  the  College,  New  Jersey ;  His  Ex- 
cellency, the  President  of  the  Philosophical  Society,  Philadel- 
phia ;  Rev.  Doctor  Sprout,  Philadelphia ;  Rev.  William  Rog- 
ers, Philadelphia  ;  Hon.  Samuel  Baldwin,  member  Congress  ; 
Hon.  Roger  Sherman,  member  Congress  ;  Hon.  William  Irvine, 
member  Congress  ;  Hon.  W.  Livingston,  of  Board  of  Treasury. 
The  first  letter  I  delivered  was  to  Mr.  Hu2:h  Henderson. 
He  is  a  wholesale  merchant,  and  lives  in  genteel. style.  Mrs. 
Henderson  is  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Willard,  Avhich  was  the  occasion 
of  my  receiving  an  introductory  letter  from  Dr.  Willard  to 
him.  Mr.  Henderson  received  me  very  politely.  After  tea 
he  proposed  a  walk  about  the  city,  but  first  gave  me  a  speci- 
men of  Scotch  generosity  ;  urged  me  to  take  lodgings  with 
him  while  I  tarried  in  the  city,  and  assigned  me  one  of  his 
front  chambers,  and  ordered  his  servant,  Starling,  to  attend 
me.  After  finding  that  no  apology  would  avail,  I  accepted  his 
invitation,  and  his  servant  was  sent  for  my  baggage.  We 
rambled  over  a  considerable  part  of  the  city  before  dai-k,  de- 
livered  a  number  of  my  letters,  and  returned   and   spent  the 


230  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

evening  very  agreeably  at  Mr.  Henderson's.  He  lives  on 
Golden  Hill,  in  Golden  Hill  street,  No.  14.  Rode  46  miles  ; 
302  from  home. 

Friday,  July  6.  This  morning  delivered  most  of  my  intro- 
ductory letters  to  the  members  of  Congress.  •  Prepared  my 
papers  for  making  application  to  Congress  for  tlie  purchase  of 
lands  in  the  western  country  for  the  Ohio  Company.  At  11 
o'clock  I  was  introduced  to  a  number  of  members  on  the  floor 
of  Congress  Chamber,  in  the  City  Hall,  by  Colonel  Carring- 
ton,*  member  from  Virginia.  Delivered  my  petition  for  pur- 
chasing lands  for  the  Ohio  Company,  and  proposed  terms  and 
conditions  of  purchase.  A  Committee  was  appointed  to  agree 
on  terms  of  negotiation,  and  report  to  Congress.  Dined  Avith 
Mr.  Dane.  He  and  Mr.  Milliken,  Comptroller  of  the  Board 
of  Treasury,  have  hired  a  house  in  Broadway,  and  live  in  a 
family  state,  with  only  two  servants.  Spent  the  evening  with 
several  members  of  Congress. 

Saturday,  July  7.  Paid  my  respects,  this  morning,  to  Dr. 
Holton,  and  several  other  gentlemen.  Was  introduced  by 
Dr.  Ewing  and  Mr.  Rittenhouse  f  to  Mr.  Hutchins,;};  Geogra- 
pher to  the  United  States,  Consulted  him,  where  to  make 
our  location.     Dined  with  General  Knox.  1 1     Introduced  to  his 


*  Colonel  Edward  Carringtou,  a  native  of  Virginia.  Served  as  Quar- 
termaster-General under  General  Greene,  in  his  southeiii  campaign. 
A  delegate  in  Congress  from  Virginia,  1787.  Born,  1749;  died,  1814, 
aged  lob.— Dr.  S.  I'.  Hildreih. 

f  David  Rittenhouse,  celebrated  mathematician:  born  in  Pennsyl" 
vania,  1732.  During  early  life  employed  in  agriculture;  his  constitu- 
tion being  feeble,  he  became  a  clock  and  mathematical  instrument 
maker.  Hemoved  to  Philadelpiiia,  1770.  Member,  an<l  for  some  time 
President  of  the  Philosophical  Society;  'i'reasurer  of  Pennsylvania 
from  1777-89;  Director  of  U.  S.  Mint  from  179l'-1795.  Died,  1796. 
Plis  ^lathematieal  talents  were  of  the  highest  order. — Biog.  of  Eminent 
Men  {Davcnporl). 

J  Thomas  Hutchins,  Geographer  General  oi'  the  U.  S.  Born  in  New 
Jersey.  For  many  years  an  officei'  in  the  army;  served  in  several 
campaigns  against  the  Indians.  Engineer  for  the  ei'ection  of  Fort 
Pitt.  Wrgte  a  history  of  Boquet's  invasion  of  the  Indian  country  in 
1764.     Died  in  17S9,  at  Pittsburg.— i)/-.  ,S'.  P.  HUdreth. 

II  Henry  Knox,  Major-General  in  the  army  of  V .  S.  Born  in  Boston, 
July  25,  1750.     Took  command  of  Corps  of  .Vrtillery  in  1776,  and  con- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  231 

lady,  and  a  French  nobleman,  the  Marquis  Lotbiniere — at 
dinner,  to  several  other  gentlemen,  who  dined  with  us.  Our 
dinner  was  served  in  high  style — much  in  the  French  taste. 
Mrs.  Knox  *  is  very  gross,  but  her  manners  easy  and  graceful. 
She  is  sociable,  and  would  be  very  agreeable,  were  it  not  for 
her  affected  singularity  in  dressing  her  half.  She  seems  to 
mimic  a  military  style,  which  to  me  is  disgusting  in  a  female. 
Her  hair  in  front  is  craped  at  least  a  foot  high,  much  in  the 
form  of  a  churn  bottom  upAvard,  and  topped  off  with  a  wire 
skeleton  in  the  same  form  covered  with  black  gauze,  which 
hangs  in  streamers  down  to  her  back.  Her  hair  behind  is  in 
a  large  braid,  turned  up,  and  confined  with  a  monstrous  large 
crooked  comb.  She  reminded  me  of  the  monstrous  cap  worn 
by  the  Marquis  La  Fayette's  valet — commonly  called,  on  this 
account,  the  Marquis'  Devil.  No  person  at  table  attracted 
my  attention  so  much  as  the  Marquis  Lotbiniere — not  on  ac- 
count of  his  good  sense,  for  if  it  had  not  been  for  his  title  I 
should  have  thought  him  two-thirds  of  a  fool. 

Waited  on  Rev.  Dr.  Rogers,  and  drank  tea  in  company  with 
Dr.  Ewing,  Dr.  AVitherspoon,  and  several  other  clergymen. 
The  Doctor  urged  me  exceedingly  to  preach  for  him,  at  least 
part  of  the  day,  on  Sunday ;  but,  as  the  two  Presidents  f  were 
in  town,  and  I  had  just  come  off  a  long  journey,  prevailed  on 
him  to  excuse  me. 

In  the  evening,  called  on  Dr.  Crosby,  in  company  with  Mr. 
Hazard.  Dr.  Crosby  is  Professor  of  MidAvifery  in  the  Uni- 
versity in  this  city.  He  is  much  of  a  gentleman,  nnd  received 
me  very  politely. 

Sunday,  July  8.     Attended  public  worship  this  morning  at 

tinuefl  during  the  war.  In  1785,  appointed  Secretaiy  of  War,  and 
continued  under  the  present  Constitution,  in  17.S9,  by  President  Wash- 
ington. Resigned  in  1799,  being  near  twenty  years  in  the  service  of 
his  country.  Died  at  Thomaston,  Maine,  1806.  He  was  greatly  dis- 
tinguished for  his  courage,  gentlemanly  bearing,  and  manly  virtues; 
one  of  Washington's  favorites. — Dr.  S.  P.  HiUreth. 

*Mrs.  Knox  was  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Thomas  Fluekner,  Secretary 
of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  under  Governor  Gage.  She  married 
General  Knox,  then  a  bookseller  in  Boston,  in  1774. 

jThe  "two  Presidents"  were  Dr.  Ewing,  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Dr.  Witherspoon,  of  the  College  of  New  .lersey. 


232  Life  of  llev.  Manameh  Cutler. 

the  new  brick  Presbyterian  Cliurch.  The  house  is  large  and 
elegant.  The  carvings  within  are  rather  plain,  but  very  neat, 
and  produce  a  fine  effect  upon  the  eye.  The  form  of  the 
house  is  long,  and  the  pulpit  near  one  end,  but  not  adjoining 
to  the  wall.  It  is  supported  by  a  single  post,  which  passes 
up  at  the  back  part  of  the  pulpit,  and  is  croAvned  with  the 
sounding-board,  not  more  than  tAVO  feet  above  the  minister's 
head.  At  the  end  of  tlic  house,  opposite  to  the  pulpit,  are 
two  doors,  wdiich  open  into  tAvo  long  aisles  that  extend  the 
whole  length  of  the  house.  The  pcAvs  are  built  on  each  side 
the  aisles,  one  tier  of  Avail  pcAvs  and  two  tiers  in  the  center  of 
the  house.  The  peAvs  are  long  and  narrow,  having  only  one 
long  seat,  except  that  there  are  tAvo  square  Avail  pcAvs  placed 
opposite  to  each  other  near  the  center  of  the  side  Avails,  with 
a  handsome  canopy  over  them  supported  by  pillars.  The 
floors  of  these  pews  are  considerably  elevated  above  the  others, 
Avhich  renders  them  very  pleasant.  They  are  called  the  Gov- 
ernor's pews,  and  are  occupied  by  strangers. 

Dr.  Ewing,*  Provost  of  the  college  at  Philadelphia,  preached 
a  very  pretty  sermon  on  the  advantages  and  excellency  of  the 
Christian  religion.  The  congregation  appeared  remarkably 
neat  and  rich  in  their  dress,  but  not  gay.  The  house  Avas  very 
full  and  exceedingly  attentive.  I  Avas  particularly  pleased 
with  the  singing.  Around  the  large  pillar  Avhich  supports  the 
pulpit  is  a  very  large  circular  pcAV,  appropriated  to  the  Wardens 
of  the  church  and  the  Chorister.  In  the  front  of  this  pcAV  is 
a  little  desk,  considerably  elevated.  When  the  Psalm  is  read, 
the  Chorister  steps  up  into  this  desk  and  sings  the  first  line. 
He  is  then  joined  in  the  second  line  by  the  Avhole  congrega- 
tion— men,  Avomen,  and  children  seemed   all   to  sing,  almost 


*  John  Ewiii;.',  iin  eminent  American  divine  ami  niatliematician,  was 
born  in  Maryland,  l7o-;  graduated  at  Princeton,  1755.  In  1759,  took 
pastoral  charge  of  First  Presbytci'ian  Churcli  <>f  Philadelphia;  contin- 
ued until  177;;.  In  1779,  he  accepted  the  station  of  Provost  of  the 
University  of  Philadelphia,  which  he  tilled  until  his  death.  He  was 
elected  Vice-president  of  .American  Philosophical  Society,  and  con- 
tributed several  valuable  memoirs  to  their  Transactions.  His  favorite 
study  was  mathematics,  and  his  Lectuies  on  Natural  History  have  ob- 
tained considerable  reputation,      lie  died,  1802. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  On  Her.  233 

without  exception.  The  airs  of  the  tunes  were  sprightly, 
though  not  very  quick  ;  the  singing,  notwithstanding  it  was 
performed  by  such  a  mixed  multitude,  was  soft,  musical,  and 
solemn,  and  the  time  well  preserved.  There  is  an  Orchestra, 
but  no  Organ,  The  public  service  was  introduced  by  a  short 
prayer,  reading  the  Scriptures,  and  then  singing ;  but  instead 
of  singing  before  sermon,  they  sing  in  the  morning,  as  well  as 
afternoon,  after  the  last  prayer.  As  soon  as  the  last  singing 
is  ended,  the  Wardens  go  out  from  the  large  round  pew,  Avith 
each  a  large  pewter  platter  in  his  hand,  each  taking  a  tier  of 
pews,  and  walk  down  the  aisles.  Every  person,  great  and 
small,  puts  into  the  platter  one  copper,  and  no  more.  This 
contribution  is  made  through  the  whole  congregation  in  less 
than  three  minutes. 

I  was  struck,  this  morning,  with  a  custom  in  this  city  which 
I  had  never  before  heard  of  in  any  part  of  the  world.  I  ob- 
served, as  I  was  going  to  church,  six  men,  Avalking  two  and 
two  toward  the  church,  with  very  large  white  sashes,  Avhich 
appeared  to  be  made  of  fine  Holland,  the  whole  Avidth  and  two 
or  three  yards  in  length.  They  were  placed  over  their  right 
shoulders,  and  tied  under  their  left  arms  in  a  very  large  bow, 
with  several  yards  of  white  ribbon  on  the  top  of  their  shoulders  ; 
a  large  rose,  formed  of  white  ribbon,  was  placed  on  the  sash. 
As  I  came  up  to  the  yard  of  the  church.  Dr.  Rogers  *  and  Dr. 
Ewing  were  just  before  me,  going  into  the  church,  both  in 
their  black  gowns,  but  Dr,  Rogers  with  a  large  white  sash, 
like  those  of  the  six  men,  only  that  the  bow  and  rose  of  rib- 
bons were  black.  These  sashes,  I  was  informed,  were  given 
the  last  Aveek  at  a  funeral.  They  are  Avorn  by  the  minister 
and  bearers  to  the  grave,  and  are  always  Avorn  by  them  the 
next   Sunday,  and   the  bearers   ahyays  walk   to   and  from  the 


*  Rev.  John  Rogers,  D.D.;  boin,  Boston,  1727;  died,  New  York  City, 
1811.  He  was  educated  in  Pliiladelphia,  and  became  impressed  with 
religious  truth  by  the  preaching  oC  Whitefield.  He  preached  for  a 
time  in  Delaware,  and  in  17('>5  became  pastor  of  the  Wall  Street  Pres- 
byterian Church,  New  York,  where  he  continued  until  his  death.  He 
served  for  a  tune  during  the  Revolutionary  War  as  chaplain. — See 
Drake's  Diet.  Am.  Biograplu/. 


234  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

church  together.     To  give  these  sashes,  is  a  general  custom  at 
the  funeral  of  persons  of  any  note. 

I  dined  at  Sir  John  Temple's.  Sir  John  Avas  so  complaisant 
as  to  invite  Dr.  Holton  and  Mr.  Dane,  Avhich  he  said  he  did 
purposely  on  my  account,  as  we  were  countrymen.  The  Hon. 
Dr.  Lee,*  Hon.  Mr.  Walton  (an  Englishman  and  a  member  of 
the  British  Parliament),  and  Mr.  Dawes,  were  the  other  com- 
pany. Sir  John  is  the  complete  gentleman,  but  his  deafness 
renders  it  painful  to  converse  with  him.  Lady  Temple  is  cer- 
tainly the  greatest  beauty,  norwithstanding  her  age,  1  ever 
saw.  To  a  well-proportioned  form,  a  perfectly  fine  skin,  and 
completely  adjusted  features,  is  added  a  soft,  but  majestic  air, 
an  easy  and  pleasing  sociability,  a  vein  of  fine  sense,  which 
commands  admiration  and  infuses  delight.  Her  smiles,  for 
she  rarely  laughs,  could  not  fail  of  producing  the  softest 
sensibility  in  the  fiercest  savage.  Her  dress  is  exceedingly 
neat  and  becoming,  but  not  gay.  She  is  now  a  grandmother, 
but  I  should  not  suppose  her  more  than  22  ;  her  real  age  is  44. 
But  my  admiration  was  still  more  excited  by  their  little 
daughter,  Augusta. f  To  me  she  appeared  a  perfect  prodigy. 
She  is  only  six  years  of  age.  She  introduces  herself  with  an 
easy  politeness  to  every  person  in  the  company,  and  is  never  at  a 


*Di-.  Arthur  L^e;  born  in  Virginia,  1740.  Educated  in  England, 
taking  his  degree  of  M.  D.  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  In  1776, 
he  was  appointed  minister  to  France,  in  conjunction  with  Dr.  Franklin 
and  Mr.  Deaiie.  In  17SI,  elected  to  the  Assembly  of  Virginia,  and  by 
this  body  returned  to  Congress,  where  he  continued  to  repi'esent  the 
state  till  178").  He  was  next  called  to  the  board  of  treasury,  where  he 
continued  till  1789.     Died  in  1792. —  lilng.  of  Eminent  Men  {Davenport). 

f  Sir  John  Temple,  Bart.,  was  the  Consul-General  of  Great  Britain  to 
the  United  States  He  was  born  in  Boston,  173-J ;  died  in  New  York, 
1798.  Lady  Temple  was  daughter  of  Governor  James  Bowdoin,  of 
Massachusetts.  Her  oldest  daughter  married  G  ■vernor  Thos.  L.  Win- 
throp,  of  Massachusetts,  and  became  the  mother  of  the  Hon.  Robt.  C. 
Winthrop,  LL.D.  Augusta  Grenville  Temple,  "the  little  daughter," 
whose  winning  ways  so  attracted  Dr.  Cutler,  became  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam L.  Palmer,  who  served  in  the  British  army  with  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain. After  retiring  Ironi  the  army,  he  lived  with  his  family  in  Boston, 
where  he  died.  The  oldest 'daughter  of  Captain  Palmer  and  Augusta 
Grenville  Temple,  Augusta  Temple  Palmei-,  became  the  wife  of  the  late 
Rufus  Prime,  of  New  York.     She  died  in  1S4(». 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  235 

loss  for  a  subject  of  conversation,  and  so  sensible  and  perti- 
nent are  all  her  observations  and  remarks  that  she  never  f:iils 
of  pleasing.  She  distinguishes  characters  in  paying  her  atten- 
tions with  a  judgment  and  precision  which  would  do  honor  to 
mature  age.  No  lady  is  more  completely  mistress  of  all  the 
little  etiquette  which  adorns  a  finished  education.  The  purity 
and  elegance  of  her  language,  witty  turns  and  AveM-timed  sar- 
casms, rather  diminished  pleasure  by  exciting  constant  as- 
tonishment. ' 

Our  dinner  was   in  the  English   style,  plain,  but   plentiful; 
the  wines  excellent,  which   is  a   greater  object  with   Sir  John 
than  his  roast  beef  or  poultry.     You  can  not  please  him  more 
than  by  praising  his  Madeira  and  frequently  begging  the  honor 
of  a  glass  with   him.     The    servants  were  all   in  livery.     The 
Parlor,    Drawing-room,  and    Dining-hall    are    in    the    second 
story — spacious  and  richly  furnished.     The  paintings  are  prin- 
cipally historical,  and  executed  by  the  greatest  masters  in  Eu- 
rope.    The  Parlor  is  ornamented  chiefly  with  medals  and  small 
busts  of  the  principal   cliaracters   now  living  in  Europe,  made 
of  Plaster  of  Paris  or  white  wax.     He  dines  at  two  on  Sun- 
days.    At  half-past  three  Mr.  Dawes  and  I  withdrew,  and  at- 
tended church  at   St.  George's  Chapel.     This  is  a  magnificent 
edifice.     The   tower  and   steeple  are   larger  and  higher,  I  be- 
lieve, than  any  other  in  America.     The   inside    of  the   church 
is  vei-y  large.     Some  paintings  and  carvings.     We  sat  in  the 
Governor's  pew,  which  is  the  same  here  as  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  being   one   on  each  side  of  the   Meeting  House.     Dr. 
Beach  read  prayers,  and  Dr.  Moore   preached  an  elegant  ser- 
mon on  benevolence.     The   church  was   exceedingly  crowded, 
and   the   congregation  was  richly  but  not   splendidly  dressed. 
In  the  time  of  the  first  singing  the  Wardens  visited  every  pew 
with   their  pewter  plates,  into  which   every  person,  small  and 
great,  put  in  a  copper.     This  seemed  to  be  "  killing  two  birds 
with  one  stone,"  for,  while  they  were  engaged  in  singing  their 
Psalm  (for  everybody  sings),  they  were   as   busy  in   fumbling 
their  pockets    for  the    coppers,  and    rattling    them    into    the 
platters. 

After  meeting  put  letters  into  the  pbst-office  for  Mrs.  Cutler 
and  friends  at  Boston. 


236  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Attended  a  lecture  <at  Dr.  Rogers'  new  brick  Presbyterian 
Church.  Full  congregation.  Dr.  Withersyjoon,*  President  of 
New  Jersey  College,  preached.  He  is  an  intolerably  homely 
old  Scotchman,  and  speaks  the  true  dialect  of  his  country,  ex- 
cept that  his  brogue  borders  on  the  Irish.  He  is  a  bad 
speaker,  has  no  oratory,  and  had  no  notes  before  him.  His 
subject  was  "  Hypocrisy.'"  But,  notwithstanding  the  dryness 
of  the  subject,  the  badness  of  his  delivery,  which  required  the 
closest  attention  to  understand  him,  yet  the  correctness  of  his 
style,  the  arrangement  of  his  matter,  and  the  many  new  ideas 
that  he  suggested,  rendered  his  sermon  very  entertaining. 
The  attention  of  the  cong-resation  strono-lv  marked  their  re- 
gard  for  good  sense  and  clear  reasoning,  rather  than  the  mere 
show  of  oratory  and  declamation.  Spent  the  remainder  of 
the  evening  and  supped  with  Mr.  Hazard. f 

Monday,  July  9.  Waited  this  morning  very  early  on  Mr. 
Hutchins.  He  gave  me  the  fullest  information  of  the  western 
country,  from  Pennsylvania  to  the  Illinois,  and  advised  me,  by 
all  means,  to  make  our  location  on  the  Muskingum,  which  was 
decidedly,  in  his  opinion,  the  best  part  of  the  whole  of  the 
western  country. 

Attended  the  Committee  before  Congress  opened,  and  then 
spent  the  remainder  of  the  forenoon  with  Mr.  Hutchins. 

Dined  at  Dr.  Rogers',  in  company  with  Dr.  Witherspoon, 
Dr.  Ewing,  Dr.  McCourtland,  of  Newark,  Mr.  Wilson,  col- 
league with  Dr.  Rogers,  and  two  other  clergymen,  from  the 
Southward,  whose  names  I  do  not  recollect.  It  seemed  like  a 
ministers'  meeting.  They  appeared  to  be  much  of  gentlemen, 
and  I  must  do  them  the  justice  to  say,  I  was  treated  with  par- 


*Jolin  Witherspoon,  D.D.,  LL.D.  Born  in  Scotland,  1722.  Educated 
for  the  ministry  at  Edinburgh.  Preached  with  great  applause  at  Paisley, 
until  1768,  when  he  accepted  the  appointment  of  the  Presidency  of 
Princeton  College.  Was  elected  to  Congress  for  a  number  of  years. 
His  name  is  affixed  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Died  in 
1794,  aged  72.— 7>.  S.  P.  Hildreih. 

jHon.  Ebenezer  Hazard.  Born  in  Philadelphia.  Graduated  at 
Princeton  in  1762.  In  1782,  appointed  Postmaster-r4eneral,  and  con- 
tinued till  1789.  In  1787,  was  Trea.surer  of  Congress.  Published  a 
work  on  American  History,  "  Hazard's  Register  "  2  vols.  Died  1817. 
—  Dr.  S  P.  Hlhire/h. 


Life  of  Rev.  31anasHeh  Cutler.  237 

ticular  marks  of  attention,  notwithstanding  my  being  a  New- 
England  man.  Dr.  Rogers  is  certainly  the  most  accomplished 
gentleman,  for  a  clergyman,  not  to  except  even  Dr.  Cooper, 
that  I  have  ever  been  acquainted  with.  He  lives  in  elegant 
style,  and  entertains  company  as  genteelly  as  the  first  gentle- 
men in  the  city.  This  he  may  well  do,  for  his  salary  is  750 
pounds  a  year,  and  his  perquisites  upward  of  200  more.  Mr. 
Wilson  is  a  young  Scotchman  and  colleague  with  Dr.  Rogers. 
They  have  two  Meeting  Houses,  and  have  two  distinct  congre- 
gations, but  they  preach  alternately  in  each  house  ;  the  same 
sermons  they  preach  in  the  forenoon  they  always  preach  in  the 
afternoon,  by  exchanging  houses.  The  church  which  belongs 
to  the  two  houses  are  but  one  corporate  body,  although  they 
commune  separately. 

It  was  with  reluctance  that  I  took  my  leave  of  this  agree- 
able and  sociable  company  of  clergymen,  but  my  business 
rendered  it  necessary. 

Attended  the  Committee  at  Congress  Chamber.  Debated 
on  terms,  but  were  so  wide  apart  that  there  appears  little 
pijospect  of  closing  a  contract.  I  had  now  a  fair  opportunity 
of  observing  minutely  the  Chamber  where  the  Supreme  Coun- 
cils of  the  Nation  are  held.  For,  after  the  debates  were  over, 
the  gentlemen  of  the  Committee  Avere  polite  enough  to  show 
me  every  thing  curious  within  these  walls. 

Congress  Chamber  is  an  apartment  in  the  second  story  of 
the  City  Hall.  This  Hall  is  a  magnificent  pile  of  buildings  in 
Wall  Street,  at  the  head  of  Broad  Street,  near  the  center  of 
the  city.  It  is  more  than  twice  the  width  of  the  State  House 
in  Boston,  but,  I  think,  not  so  long.  The  lower  story  is  a 
Avalk ;  at  each  corner  are  rooms,  appropriated  to  the  Mayor 
and  Aldermen  of  the  city,  and  the  City  Guards.  Between  the 
corner  rooms,  on  each  side  and  at  the  ends,  it  is  open  for  a 
considerable  space,  supported  by  pillars.  In  front  is  a  flight 
of  steps  from  the  street,  over  which  is  a  two-story  piazza,  with 
a  spacious  walk,  which  communicates  with  Congress  Chamber 
at  the  east  end,  and  with  the  chamber  where  the  Mayor  and 
Aldermen  hold  their  courts  at  the  west  end.  Congress  Cham- 
ber is  up  the  eastern  stairs ;  it  is  nearly  square.  On  the 
southern  side  the  floor  is  raised  several  feet,  which  is  ascended 


238  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

by  steps  and  inclosed  with  a  banister.     In'  the  center  is  a  large 
chair,  raised  still  higher,  lined  with   red  damask  silk,  and  over 
it  a  curious  canopy,  fringed  with  silk,  and  two  large,  flowing, 
damask  curtains  descending  from  the  sides  of  the  canopy  to 
the  floor,  partly  furled  with  silken  cords.     This  is  the  seat  of 
the  President  of  Congress,  and  the  appearance  at  the  opposite 
side  of  the  Chamber  is  superb.     On  the  floor  of  the  Chamber, 
at  the  right  and  left  from  the  President's  chair,  are  two  rows 
of  chairs,  extended  to   the  opposite  side  of  the  room,  with  a 
small  bureau  table  placed  before  each  chair  ;  the  chairs  and 
tables  are  mahogany,  richly  carved,  the  arms  and  bottom  cov- 
ered with  red   morocco   leather.     On  each  side  of  the  Presi- 
dent's chair,  Avithin  the  banisters,  are  chairs  and  tables  similar 
to  those  of  the  members,  for  the  use  of  the  Secretary  and  his 
clerks.     In  the   midst  of  the  floor  is  a  vacant  space,  in  the 
form  of  a  broad  aisle.     The  curtains  of  the  windows  are  red 
damask,  richly  ornamented  with  fringe.     At  the  east  end  is 
a  portrait  of  General  Washington,  at  full  length,  well  executed. 
At  the  opposite  end  are  the  portraits  of  some  of  the  General 
Officers  wdio  fell   in  the  late  war.     On  the   side  opposite  the 
President's   seat   are   the   portraits  of  the  King  and  Queen  of 
France,  as  large  as  life.     They  were  drawn  by  the  King's  own 
portrait  painter,  and   presented  by  his   Majesty  to  Congress. 
The  drapery  infinitely  exceeds   any  thing   of  the  kind  I  ever 
saw  before.     They  are  dressed  in  their  robes,  and  life  and  an- 
imation is  imitated  to  perfection.     When  the  damask  curtains, 
which  covered  them,  were  drawn,  their  eyes  were  fixed  upon 
us  with  a  vivacity  that  bespoke  life  itself,  and  their  majestic 
countenances  seemed  to  chastise  our  insolence  in  approaching 
them  with  so  little  reverence. 

Called  again  on  Mr.  Hutchins  and  consulted  him  farther  on 
the  place  of  location. 

Spent  the  evening  with  Dr.  Holton  *  and  several  other  mem- 
bers of  Congress  in  Hanover  Square. 


*SMmuel  Holton,  born  in  Danvers  in  \To8;  for  a  time  President  of 
Congress,  and  a  member  several  years.  In  1796  appointed  Judge  of 
Probate  for  Essex  County  (Mass. ) ;  died  in  1S15.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  excellence  of  character  and  fine  personal  appearance. — Dr.  S.  P. 
Hildreth. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  239 

Tuesday,  July  10.  This  morning  another  conference  with 
the  committee.  Called  on  Dr.  Crosby,  in  company  with  ]Mr. 
Hazard.  The  Doctor  is  Professor  of  Midwifer}^  in  Columbia 
College,  in  this  city,  and  was  so  polite  as  to  invite  me  to  visit 
the  college  and  introduce  me  to  the  Governois.  The  college 
is  built  of  stone,  in  an  elegant  style,  three  stories  high,  with 
three  cross  entries.  In  front  is  a  square  and  spacious  yard, 
wnth  a  very  high  fence.  There  is  a  flight  of  steps  up  to  each 
entry.  The  building  is  very  long  and  wide.  At  the  west  end 
is  the  hall  in  front  and  the  dinning-room  in  the  rear,  Avith 
only  a  partition  between  them.  In  the  second  story  over  the 
hall  is  the  library.  It  was  once  large,  but  most  of  the  books 
were  pillaged  by  the  British  soldiery,  and  a  greater  part  of 
the  shelves  are  now  empty.  Here  I  found  a  number  of  vol- 
umes of  Dr.  Hill's  Natural  History. 

It  consists  of  thirty  volumes,  in  large  folios,  but  the  greater 
part  of  them  Avere  carried  off  by  the  British.  This  is  the  fate 
of  war.  The  engravings  of  the  plants  are  Avell  executed,  and 
it  is  the  best  work  of  that  voluminous  writer.  It  cost  one 
hundred  guineas,  and  is  the  only  set  ever  imported  to  Amer- 
ica. On  the  opposite  side  is  the  apparatus  chamber,  but  this 
suffered  the  same  fate  with  the  library,  and  few  articles,  and 
those  of  little  consideration,  remain.  In  the  third  story,  over 
the  library,  is  the  chamber  where  the  Professor  of  Natural 
Philosophy  and  Astronomy  delivers  his  lectures  and  instructs 
the  classes  in  mathematics.  It  is  very  prettily  prepared  for 
the  purpose.  He  is  an  agreeable  gentleman,  and  appeared 
to  be  well  informed  in  the  line  of  his  professorship. 

Adjoining  this  chamber  is  the  apparatus  which  he  uses  in 
the  course  of  his  instruction.  It  is  noAv  and  very  elegant, 
consisting  of  a  small  reflecting  achromatic  telescope,  a  fine 
compound  microscope,  a  camera-obscura  on  a  ncAV  plan,  a 
complete  apparatus  of  mechanical  poAvers,  a  ncAV  set  of  tAvo 
feet  globes,  and  several  other  instruments.  I  Avas  much  pleased 
with  a  ncAV  constructed  compass,  so  formed  as  to  take  azimuths 
to  shoAV  the  dip  of  the  needle  and  variations,  Avith  an  instru- 
ment adjusted  to  it  for  taking  bearings  and  altitudes.  It  cost 
sixty  guineas.  Here  Avas  an  electrical  machine,  but  of  little 
value  in  making  experiments  on  the  large  scale. 


240  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

There  are  about  150  students  in  the  college.  Dr.  Sam. 
Johnson,  of  Connecticut,  was  lately  elected  President,  as  suc- 
cessor to  his  father,  the  late  President,  but  has  not  yet  accepted 
the  invitation.  The  presiding  Professor  is  a  Dutchman,  but 
very  polite,  and  invited  us  to  his  chamber  at  the  opposite  end 
of  the  college,  where  he  lives  with  his  wife  and  family  in  a 
very  pretty  style.  I  was  pleased  Avith  the  college,  and  the 
civilities  and  attention  of  the  Governors.  It  stands  in  a  fine, 
airy  situation,  toward  North  River,  just  in  the  edge  of  the 
city. 

Dined  with  Colonel  Duer,  in  company  with  Mr.  Osgood,* 
President  of  the  Board  of  Treasury,  Major  Sargent,  and  sev- 
eral other  gentlemen.  I  was  never  more  deceived  in  any 
thina  I  ever  drank  than  in  a  tumbler  of  bottled  cider,  occas- 
ioned  by  the  ice  which  I  put  into  it — for  I  had  no  conception 
what  it  was,  and  supposed  it  to  be  a  species  of  liquor  I  had 
never  before  tasted.     It  was  exceedingly  fine. 

At  table  we  were  honored  with  the  company  of  Mademoiselle 
La  Fouche,  a  French  lady  of  the  family  of  one  of  the  noblesse, 
and  Lady  Kitty,  the  wife  of  Colonel  Duer.  Lady  Kitty,  for 
so  she  is  called,  was  the  daughter  of  Lord  Sterling,  and  in- 
herits the  title  from  her  father,  who  had  no  male  heir.  She  is 
a  fine  woman,  though  not  a  beauty,  very  sociable,  and  Avith 
most  accomplished  manners.  She  performed  the  honors  of  the 
table  most  gracefully,  Avas  constantly  attended  by  tAVo  serv- 
ants in  livery,  and  insisted  on  performing  the  Avhole  herself. 
Colonel  Duer  t   is  Secretary  to  the   Board  of  Treasury,  and 


*  Samuel  Osgood  was  a  native  of  Andover,  Massachusetts,  and  a 
grgduate  of  Harvard  College,  1770.  Served  for  a  short  time  in  the  revo- 
lution as  Aid  to  General  Ward  and  as  Commissary.  In  17S()  was 
chosen  delegate  to  Congress.  In  17S5  he  was  a]ipointed  one  of  the 
Board  of  Treasury,  lie  was  Postmaster-General  from  1789  to  1791; 
was  afterward  member  of  New  York  Legislature,  and  from  I.S03  until 
his  death,  in  1813,  was  naval  officer  ot  tlie  Port  of  New  York.  "He 
was  well  versed  in  science  and  literature,  and  distinguished  for  integ- 
rity, public  spirit,  and  piety." — *SV(;  Drake  n  Diet.  Am.  liiograplnj. 

f  William  Duer  was  born  in  England  in  1747.  .At  the  age  of  eighteen 
he  entered  tlie  English  army,  and  served  in  India  as  Aid  to  Lord 
Olive.  By  the  death  of  his  fatlier  he  became  tlie  owner  oi  a  hand- 
some  property,  the   care   of  which,  together   with    ill    health,  induced 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  241 

lives  in  the  style  of  a  nobleman.  I  presume  he  had  not  less 
than  fifteen  different  sorts  of  wine  at  dinner,  and  after  the 
cloth  was  removed,  besides  most  excellent  bottled  cider,  porter, 
and  several  other  kinds  of  strong  beer. 


him  to  leave  the  army.  In  1768  he  came  to  New  York  to  secure  a 
supply  of  lumber  for  the  family  plantations  in  the  West  Indies,  aiul  to 
fultill  a  contract  for  masts  for  the  British  navy.  By  the  advice  of 
General  Philif)  Schuyler  and  Lord  Stirling,  he  purchased  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  the  town  of  Argyle,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson  River. 
Here  he  laid  f)ut  a  town  and  made  his  home.  He  was  soon  commis- 
sioned Colonel  of  militia,  and  appointed  Judge  of  the  County  Court. 
He  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Colonies  in  the  War  of  the  Kevolution, 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  of  the  Convention 
called  by  New  York  to  form  a  State  Constitution,  and,  with  John  Jay, 
Egbert  Benson,  and  Comfort  Sands,  as  a  member  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  of  New  York.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
and,  despite  his  youth,  wielded  a  commanding  influence  in  its  coun- 
sels. Mainly  through  his  efforts  the  designs  of  the  famous  Conway 
Cabal,  which  proposed  to  deprive  Washington  of  the  command  of  the 
army,  were  defeated.  In  1779  Colonel  Duer  married  Lady  Kitty,  the 
daughter  of  Lord  Stirling,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  moved  with 
his  family  to  New  York.  When  Robert  Morris  resigned  as  Superin- 
tendent of  Finance,  Congress  created  a  Treasury  Board  of  three  mem- 
bers, of  which  Colonel  Duer  was  made  Secretary.  When  tlie  Federal 
Constitution  was  adopted,  he  rendered  valuable  aid  to  Alexander 
Hamilton  in  organizing  the  new  department.  The  office  of  Assistant 
Secretary  was  created  expressly  for  him.  Few  men  had  more  to  do 
with  establishing  the  credit  of  the  new  government.  He  had  an  ex- 
tensive acquaintance  in  Europe,  had  been  engaged  in  large  business 
transactions,  and  was  known  as  a  bold  and  successful  operator.  The 
fact  of  his  large  dealings  in  United  States  securities  drew  the  attention 
of  foreign  capitalists  to  them.  When  Doctor  Cutler  presented  the 
petition  of  the  Ohio  Company  for  the  purchase  of  lands  to  Congress, 
Colonel  Duer  was  quick  to  see  the  advantage  such  a  sale  would  be  to 
the  public  credit,  and  the  value  that  would  be  given  to  the  lands  ad- 
joining by  a  systematic  settlement  of  such  men  as  composed  the  Ohio 
Company,  and  organized  the  Scioto  speculation,  whose  disastrous  his- 
tory is  elsewhere  told. 

Colonel  Duer  was  largely  interested  in  the  establishment  of  the 
United  States  bank,  and  in  1790  to  1792  had  the  contract  for  supplying 
troops  in  the  North-west  Territory.  He  failed  in  the  panic  of  1792, 
and  lost  all  of  his  property.  Broken  in  health  and  fortune,  Colonel* 
Duer  never  again  engaged  in  active  business,  and  died  in  1799.  See 
sketch  in  Knickerbocker  Magazine,  August,  1852. 

16 


242  Life  of  Rev.  Mayiasseli  Cutler. 

As  Congress  was  now  engaged  in  settling  the  form  of  gov- 
ernment for  the  Federal  Territor}^,  for  which  a  bill  had  been 
prepared,  and  a  copy  sent  to  me,  with  leave  to  make  remarks 
and  propose  amendments,  and  which  I  had  taken  the  liberty 

V    to  remark  upon,  and  to  propose  several  amendments,  I  thought 

/T     this  the  most  favorable  opportunity  to  go  on  to  Philadelphia. 
Accordingly,  after  I  had   returned  the  bill  Avith  my  observa- 

!'      tions,  I  set  out  at  7  o'clock,  and  crossed  North  River  to  Paulus 

!  \    Hook. 

The  ferry  is  one  mile  and  three-quarters  in  width.  It  was 
a  fine  serene  evening,  and  the  numerous  vessels  of  almost 
every  possible  size,  passing  up  and  down,  and  indeed  in  every 
direction,  rendered  our  passage  very  delightful,  though  it  was 
10  o'clock  before  we  landed  at  the  Hook.  There  is  an  ex- 
cellent tavern  kept  by  Smith,  where  I  lodged.  There  Avas  a 
great  deal  of  company,  but  the  apartments  in  the  house  are 
so  numerous  that  every  person,  if  he  pleases,  has  one  to  him- 
self, which  is  furnished  with  a  genteel  field  bed.  My  bill  at 
Barnes',  for  ray  horse,  13s.  ^d.;  ferriage,  46*.  Qd. 

Wednesday,  July  11.  My  bill  this  morning,  4s.  lOtZ.  Set 
out  early  for  Philadelphia.  Paulus  Hook  was  very  strongly 
fortified,  in  the  time  of  the  late  war,  by  the  Americans.  It  is 
a  point  of  land  surrounded  with  a  marsh,  and  of  very  small 
extent.     The  fortifications  in  some  parts  remain  entire. 

Two  miles  from  the  Hook  is  Bergentown,  a  very  compact 
village  of  considerable  extent.  It  is  inhabited  entirely  by 
Dutch.  There  is  a  large  Dutch  Church,  built  with  stone,  and 
a  handsome  steeple.  The  houses  are  mostly  built  with  stone, 
and  in  the  Dutch  style,  which  gives  them  a  very  odd  appear- 
ance to  a  New  England  man.  They  are  large  on  the  ground, 
one  and  a  half  story  high,  sharp  pitched  roofs,  no  regularity 
in  doors  and  windows  ;  and  the  windows,  which  appear  like 
dead  lights,  are  generally  shut  up  very  close  with  a  window 
shutter  on  the  outside,  so  that  very  little  glass  appears  as  you 
pass  through  the  street.  Every  house  has  a  piazza  in  front, 
'and  some  of  them  extended  round  the  whole  house.  This 
town  is  said  to  be  remarkable  for  its  wealth.  The  people  are 
mostly  farmers,  the  women  work  in  the  fields,  and  generally 
drive   the  wagons,  which  are  drawn    by  two   or  three  horses 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  243 

abreast.  It  is  Avell  situated  for  supplying  the  markets  of  New 
York,  which  the  Dutch  people  know  how  to  improve  to  the 
best  advantage.  Their  own  food  and  clothing  costs  them  but 
a  trifle,  and  all  the  money  they  can  get  they  lock  up  in  their 
coffers,  so  that  a  Dutchman  here  is  called  a  poor  man,  and  a 
bad  husband,  who  has  not  more  than  500  guineas  in  his  chest 
at  a  time. 

After  leaving  Bergentown  I  entered  a  very  extensive  marsh, 
which  goes  far  into  the  country.  It  is  four  miles  across  it, 
and  the  road  a  narrow  causeway,  sufficient  only  for  one  car- 
riage to  pass,  except  at  the  ferry  ways.  No  carriage  sets  out 
from  the  shore,  or  from  either  of  the  ferry  Avays,  if  they  see 
that  one  coming  toward  them  has  entered  the  causeway,  for 
they  can  not  pass  by  each  other.  It  is  very  extraordinary 
that,  on  so  great  a  road,  so  little  attention  is  paid  to  the  public 
ways  in  this  place.  In  crossing  this  extensive  marsh,  besides 
several  bridges,  there  are  two  ferries.  The  first  is  over  Hack- 
ensack  River,  at  Smith's  ferry,  half  a  mile  across — ferriage, 
l.s.  6(i.  The  next  is  Second  River,  about  half  the  width — 
ferriage,  Is.  Zd.  The  boats  are  very  convenient,  for  the 
stages,  as  well  as  smaller  carriages,  drive  in  and  out  with  the 
passengers  in  them. 

Made  my  first  stage  at  Newark,  nine  miles  from  New  York, 
at  Pell's  tavern,  a  tolerable  house.  Breakfasted  ;  bill,  2  s.  Qd. 
Horseshoeing,  3s.  My  horse's  side  badly  galled ;  purchased 
a  cloth  to  put  under  the  saddle,  9s.  Ne^fvark  is  a  small  village, 
situated  -on  a  plain  ;  it  has  no  considerable  buildings.  There 
is  a  small  Church,  a  Presbyterian  Meeting  House,  and  a  Dutch 
Church.  Made  a  short  stop  at  Elizabethtown,  six  miles  from 
Newark,  at  Prince's  tavern,  to  get  my  harness  mended ;  bill, 
Is.  4c?.  This  is  a  very  pretty  village ;  several  handsome 
houses,  one  Meeting  House.  A  small  river  empties  into  the 
sea  at  this  town,  and  passes  through  it,  over  which  is  an  ele- 
gant stone  bridge.  Dined  at  Cross  Keys,  Lott's  tavern,  in 
Woodbridge.  This  tavern  is  kept  in  an  elegant  style.  The 
hostler  is  at  the  door,  ready  to  take  your  horse,  which  he  im- 
mediately takes  out  of  the  carriage,  rubs  him  down,  then 
washes  him  with  a  swab  and  wipes  him  dry — which  is  done  in 
a  few  minutes,  and,  I  am  satisfied,  is  of  as  much   service  as 


244  Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler. 

his  provender,  especially  at  this  hot  dusty  season,  for  he  has 
been  treated  in  the  same  way  at  every  tavern  since  I  left  New 
York,  and  it  has  evidently  increased  his  spirits. 

The  land  from  Bergentown  to  this  stage  is  level,  the  road 
excellent,  the  soil  good.  The  face  of  the  country  has  the  ap- 
pearance of  wealth,  but  I  suspect  the  farmers  are  rather  lazy. 
The  houses  from  Elizabethtown,  which  is  ten  miles,  are  rather 
scattered,  though  they  are  well  built,  and  in  good  repair. 

I  passed  through  Spanktown,  but  the  Meeting  House,  and 
the  thickest  of  the  buildings,  were  at  some  distance.  It  is  a 
small  village,  of  no  consideration.     Bill,  4(f. 

My  next  stage  was  New  Brunswick,  ten  miles.  On  my  way 
passed  through  Bonhamtown ;  the  houses  scattered,  farms 
good,  and  road  fine.  Orchards,  and  every  species  of  fruit 
trees,  abound  in  the  part  of  New  Jersey.  New  Brunswick  is 
a  large  town,  well  built,  and  situated  on  the  Avest  bank  of  the 
Raritan  River,  over  which  is  a  ferry  of  about  half  a  mile,  and 
passengers  are  landed  at  the  foot  of  the  main  street.  ]Many 
of  the  buildings  are  brick  and  stone ;  but  the  attention  of 
travelers  is  principally  engaged  by  a  very  lengthy  brick  build- 
ing, just  above  the  town,  two  stories  high,  and  in  a  most  de- 
lightful situation.  It  was  built  by  the  Americans  for  barracks, 
and  afterward  improved  as  a  hospital ;  but  so  elegant  is  this 
building,  that  I  conceived  it  must  have  been  designed  for  an 
academy  or  college,  until  I  was  otherwise  informed. 

There  seems  to  be  considerable  trade  carried  on  in  this 
town,  though  the  shipping  consists  of  only  small  craft,  and 
even  that  was  very  inconsiderable.  The  Raritan  is  a  beauti- 
ful river,  but  the  water  is  very  shoal.  The  ferryman  told  me 
that  in  dry  seasons  it  had  been  forded  Avhere  the  boat  passed. 
Ferriage,  Is.  6cZ.  Made  a  short  stage  at  the  Lion,  where  my 
horse  was  treated  as  before ;  bill,  Is.  From  this  stage  I  trav- 
eled to  Princeton,  17  miles,  where  I  arrived  at  ten  in  the 
evening.  As  the  day  had  been  very  hot,  I  found  myself  suf- 
ficiently fatigued,  though  the  roads  had  been  excellent,  and 
the  country  delightful.  Lodged  at  the  sign  of  the  College — 
Beckman's  tavern — 52  miles  from  New  York,  and  354  miles 
from  home. 

The  land  about  New  Brunswick  is  not  very  good.     The  soil 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  245 

is  a  reddish  earth,  but  just  under  it  is  a  stratum  of  crumbling 
stone.  The  road  in  many  places  was  gullied  several  feet  deep 
in  this  stone,  but  still  level  and  hard.  The  ruts,  however, 
were  sometimes  so  deep,  as  very  much  to  incommode  my  car- 
riage, for  the  axle-tree  was  longer  than  is  used  in  this  coun- 
try. The  crops  of  wheat,  rye,  barley,  oats,  and  flax,  which  I 
observed  in  the  course  of  this  day's  travel,  were  very  fine. 
The  general  face  of  the  country  rather  flat,  though  now  and 
then  I  ascended  eminences  which  aiforded  an  extensive  pros- 
pect. The  wheat  was  in  many  places  reaped,  in  some  shocked 
in  the  field,  and  the  whole  appeared  to  be  ripe,  but,  to  my 
surprise,  I  saw  very  few  people  at  labor  in  their  fields,  or  any- 
where else. 

Thursday/,  July  12.  I  rose  very  early  this  morning,  and 
took  a  view  of  Princeton.  It  is  a  small  town — or,  rather,  has 
but  a  small  number  of  houses  in  the  most  compact  part — but 
it  is  most  delightfully  situated  on  the  summit  of  a  very  broad 
hill,  which  descends  every  way  with  a  long  easy  slope,  and 
commands  a  most  extensive  prospect  in  every  direction.  Few 
of  the  buildings  are  large,  none  very  elegant.  The  people 
are  principally  farmers,  and  the  soil  rich  and  strong.  The 
College  (Nassau  Hall)  is  spacious,  built  of  stone,  and  stands 
on  the  highest  ground  in  the  town.  It  fronts  to  the  north,  and 
toward  the  street,  and  has  before  it  a  very  large  yard,  walled 
in  with  stone  and  lime.  The  ground  descends  considerably 
from  the  College  to  the  street,  which  gives  it  a  lofty  appear- 
ance. 

At  half  past  5  I  ventured  to  call  on  Colonel  Morgan  *  (to 
whom  I  had  letters),  though  I  was  doubtful  whether  I  should 
find  him  up.  He  was,  however,  in  his  parlor,  engaged  with 
his  books,  and  received  me  very  politicly.     He  is  a  farmer  in 

*  Colonel  George  Morgan,  born  in  Philadelphia.  During  the  war, 
from  1777  to  its  close,  he  acted  as  Indian  Agent  for  the  United  States. 
In  1784,  laid  out  the  town  of  Mew  Madrid,  under  a  grant  from  the 
Spanish  government  of  a  large  tract  of  land.  After  the  war  he  settled 
on  a  farm  near  Princeton,  N.  J.,  where  his  fine  taste  in  agriculture  had 
room  to  display  itself.  His  farm  became  a  model  one — making  many 
improvements  in  agriculture,  and  writing  several  valuable  articles  on 
the  habits  of  the  Hessian  fly,  then  first  seen  in  the  wheat  fields  of 
America. — Dr.  iS.  P.  Hildreth. 


246  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

the  strictest  sense,  and  I  believe  the  first  in  America  in  the 
knowledge  of  agriculture,  and,  besides,  is  a  literary  charac- 
ter. His  house  stands  a  little  back  of  the  College,  and  in  a 
situation  Avhich  commands  a  complete  view  of  his  w^hole  farm, 
consisting  of  about  200  acres.  Here  I  saw  verified  what  I 
had  before  often  heard  observed,  that  the  boundaries  of  his 
farm  might  be  easily  distinguished  from  his  neighbors',  from 
its  high  state  of  cultivation. 

He  gave  me  a  general  history  of  his  improvements,  and  of 
the  experiments  he  was  then  making.  His  barn  and  yard  are 
truly  curiosities.  His  garden  consists  of  three  acres,  and  is 
principally  employed  for  making  experiments,  Avhich  appeared 
to  be  well  judged  and  critically  attended  to.  Here  I  saw  the 
Hessian  fly,  as  it  is  called,  which  has  done  immense  injury  to 
wheat.  Our  country  is  under  much  obligation  to  this  gentle- 
man for  the  discoveries  he  has  made,  and  thfe  information  he 
has  given,  respecting  this  insect,  in  consequence  of  his  experi- 
ments. It  has  enabled  the  farmers  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try to  get  rid  of  an  insect  that  had  wholly  cut  off  their  crops 
of  grain  for  several  years  successively.  In  his  garden  he  had 
Indian  corn  growing,  in  long  rows,  from  different  kinds  of 
seed,  collected  from  the  different  latitudes  on  this  Continent, 
as  far  north  as  the  most^northern  parts  of  Canada,  and  south 
as  far  as  the  West  Indies.  His  Apiary  struck  me  with  as- 
tonishment. On  the  southern  side  of  his  garden  he  had  64 
swarms  of  bees  in  a  line,  which  I  judged  extended  more 
than  15  rods.  He  takes  the  honey  when  he  pleases,  with- 
out destroying  the  bees.  I  much  regretted  the  want  of 
time  ;  being  determined  this  day  to  reach  Philadelphia,  I  was 
obliged  to  take  my  leave  before  my  curiosity  was  one-half 
gratified.  It  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  I  could  prevail  on 
him  to  excuse  my  tarrying  longer,  particularly  as  a  son  of  his, 
who  was  then  from  home,  but  every  moment  expected,  had 
begun  the  study  of  Botany.  He  was  very  anxious  that  I 
should  converse  with  him,  and  give  him  particular  directions 
for  pursuing  the  study.  Nothing  would  avail  but  a  promise 
to  call  on  him  on  my  return,  and  to  consent  to  take  his  son 
under  my  instruction,  if  he  could  find  no  person  sufficiently 
versM  in  the  science  near  to  him. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianassch  Cutler.  247 

I  then  called  on  Dr.  Smith,  the  Vice-president  of  the  Col- 
lege, to  whom  I  also  had  letters.  He  is  a  young  gentleman, 
lives  in  elegant  style,  and  is  the  first  literary  character  in  this 
state.  He  waited  on  me  to  the  college.  The  building  is 
three  stories,  has  three  cross  and  one  long  entry  in  the  first 
story.  There  are  long  entrifes  in  each  story,  Avhich  are  in  the 
center,  and  extend  from  end  to  end.  *  Every  chamber  opens 
into  these  entries,  rendering  communication  vastly  more  con- 
venient. The  library  is  small ;  many  of  the  books  were  taken 
out  by  the  British  troops,  which  they  were  not  so  complaisant  as 
to  return.  The  cabinet  and  philosophical  apparatus  are  very  in- 
difi'erent.  The  only  article  worthy  of  notice  was  the  orrery, 
made  by  Mr.  Rittenhouse.  This  is  an  elegant  machine,  and  much 
exceeds  any  that  have  been  made  in  Europe.  I  was,  however, 
much  disappointed  to  find  that  part  of  it  was  sent  to  Phila- 
delphia to  be  repaired,  which  consisted  of  the  whole  of  the 
terrestrial  and  lunar  motions,  the  most  curious  part  of  the  ma- 
chine. I  was  much  pleased  Avith  the  hall  and  the  stage  erected 
in  it  for  exhibitions.  It  is  well  formed  for  plays,  which  are 
permitted  here,  and  dialogue-speaking  principally  cultivated. 
This  hall  is  ornamented  Avith  several  paintings,  particularly 
the  famous  battle  in  this  town  the  next  morning  after  the  cap- 
ture of  the  Hessians  at  Trenton.  It  is,  I  believe,  more  than 
six  feet  square,  done  on  canvas,  and  executed  in  a  masterly 
manner  by  Mr.  Peele,  of  Philadelphia.  The  principal  figure 
is  General  Washington  at  the  head  of  his  army,  emerging 
from  a  thick  wood,  forming  and  advancing  in  a  regular  man- 
ner, the  British  fleeing  in  confusion,  leaving  many  slain  on  the 
ground,  but  the  pleasure  of  the  scene  is  greatly  diminished 
by  a  view  of  General  Mercer  walloAving  in  his  gore.  He  was 
at  the  head  of  the  advanced  guard,  and  was  slain  at  the  first 
attack.  After  vicAving  this  scene  on  canvas,  we  ascended  the 
cupola  and  took  a  vieAv  of  the  ground  itself  on  Avhich  the  bat- 
tle Avas  fought,  the  manner  of  the  attack,  and  the  several  di- 
rections in  Avhich  the  British  fled.  It  Avas  no  small  gratifica- 
tion to  take  so  extensive  a  view,  as  this  situation  aff'orded,  of 
the  place  Avhere  so  important  an  event  in  the  history  of  the 
American  revolution  occurred. 


248  Life^  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Here  again  I  felt  myself  straightened  for  time,  and  was 
obliged  to  take  my  leave  of  Doctor  Smith,  who  had  shown  me 
the  most  polite  attention,  rather  abruptly,  but  I  promised  to 
call  on  him  on  my  return.  When  I  returned  to  town  I  had 
the  good  fortune  to  find  a  gentleman  going  on  to  Philadel- 
phia in  a  sulky.     Bill*,  G-s.  6d.,  Pennsylvania  money. 

In  about  five  miles  we  passed  through  a  toAvn,  called  Maiden- 
head, of  no  consideration,  for  the  houses  were  as  scattered  as 
in  other  parts  of  the  country.  We  made  our  first  stage  at 
Trenton,  thirteen  miles,  at  Yandergrift's  tavern,  at  the  ferry. 
This  toAvn  is  at  a  short  distance  from  the  Delaware,  on  a  river 
which  comes  from  the  south-east  and  unites  with  the  Delaware 
at  this  place.  There  is  only  one  small  Meeting  House  and 
a  small  church  in  this  town,  I  therefore  conclude  the  people 
are  not  much  disposed  to  attend  public  worship,  for  the  two 
houses,  I  presume,  are  not  sufiicient  to  hold  one-third  of  the  in- 
habitants. Over  the  river,  in  the  compact  part  of  the  town,  is  a 
spacious  stone  bridge,  supported  by  arches  built  with  stone  and 
lime,  and  a  high  wall  on  each  side,  handsomely  laid.  At  the 
foot  of  the  bridge  are  mills  for  grinding  and  bolting  wheat. 
These  mills  are  contained  in  a  very  large  stone  building,  three 
stories  high,  and  are  remarkable  for  the  prodigious  quantity 
and  the  excellent  quality  of  the  flour,  which  is  ground  in  them 
every  twenty-four  hours.  I  felt  a  curiosity  to  examine  them, 
but  as  the  tavern  Avhere  we  proposed  to  make  our  stage  was  at 
some  distance,  the  day  very  hot,  and  our  time  for  reaching 
Philadelphia  short,  I  concluded  to  postpone  it  until  my  return. 
The  houses  in  this,  and,  indeed,  in  all  the  towns  in  New  Jer- 
sey, are  built  in  a  style  very  different  from  that  of  New  Eng- 
land, but  I  think  it  is  far  less  elegant.  The  want  of  large 
Meeting  Houses  and  towering  steeples  is  a  great  defect,  and 
diminishes  that  air  of  grandeur  which  adorns  almost  every 
New  England  village.  Neither  are  the  houses  so  spacious  nor 
so  well  built.  But  this  town  stands  high  in  the  list  of  fame, 
and  will  be  remembered  by  future  ages  on  account  of  the  mem- 
orable victory,  and  indeed  the  first  complete  victory,  ob- 
tained by  the  illustrious  Washington  over  the  British  army — 
the  capture  of  a  large  detachment  of  Hessian  troops  cantoned 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  249 

in  this  town.  From  the  hill  Ave  ascend  immediately  after  we 
had  passed  the  bridge,  my  companion  pointed  out  to  me  the 
course  of  the  American  army  as  they  came  down  on  the  Hes- 
sians on  both  sides  of  the  river  ;  the  spot  where  the  first  sentry 
was  surprised,  the  advance  guard  taken  without  firing  a  gun, 
the  manner  of  surrounding  and  invading  the  town.  The 
ground  where  the  Hessians  formed,  planted  their  artillery, 
and  engaged  the  American  troops,  was  in  the  main  street,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  bridge.  After  a  warm  fire,  on  both 
sides,  which  lasted  only  a  few  minutes,  the  Hessians  laid  down 
their  arms  and  surrendered  prisoners  of  war.  A  small  num- 
ber of  their  troops,  stationed  on  this  hill,  made  their  escape. 
I  must  confess  that  a  view  of  the  ground  where  this  important 
scene  was  acted  excited  in  me  the  most  sensible  feelings  of 
American  pride.  I  participated  in  the  pleasing  sensations 
that  must  have  pervaded  our  harassed  and  desponding  army 
on  this  change  of  fortune. 

By  this  time  I  began  to  felicitate  myself  on  my  good  fortune 
in  finding  I  had  met  with  another  fellow  traveler  not  less  in- 
telligent, sociable,  and  agreeable  than  the  one  I  traveled  w^ith 
from  Horse-neck  to  New  York.  Vandergrift's  is  a  good 
house.  Our  horses  were  led  into  the  river,  well  washed,  and 
then  wiped  dry.  Bill  and  ferriage,  3s.  Sd.  Here  we  crossed 
the  Delaware,  at  what  is  called  the  lower  ferry,  and  landed  in 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  The  river  is  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  wide,  but  the  water  not  deep.  About  half  a  mile 
above  us  is  a  kind  of  bar  of  rocks,  many  of  them  out  of  the 
water,  and  the  stream  broken  and  rapid ;  but  large  flat-bottomed 
boats  pass  up  and  down,  and  ascend  the  river  for  more  than  a 
hundred  miles. 

On  the  Pennsylvania  side  of  the  Delaware  is  a  famous  forge, 
slitting-mill,  and  rolling-mill,  and  several  mills  for  grinding 
and  bolting  flour.  Near  them  are  several  long  buildings  in 
the  form  of  barracks,  occupied  by  nail-makers,  but  we  had  not 
time  to  visit  them.  These  works  are  owned  by  Mr.  Morris, 
the  American  financier.  At  a  small  distance  from  the  ferry, 
we  entered  an  extensive  tract  of  woodland,  the  road  nearly 
straight,  almost  perfectly  level,  and  free  from  sand  or  stones, 
and  not  a  house  to  be  seen  for  about  five  miles.     The  growth, 


250  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

oak,  hickory,  walnut,  and  some  maple.  Here  I  first  saw  the 
persimmon  tree,  which  produces  fruit  having,  when  ripe,  a 
sweet  and  agreeable  taste.  It  is  distilled  into  a  spirit  said  to 
be  equal  in  taste  and  flavor  to  West  India  rum.  They  are  also 
brewed,  and  make  excellent  beer.  These  trees  are  common 
on  the  wayside.  In  several  places  I  saw  the  tulip  tree,  which 
is  large,  tall,  and  straight,  and  when  in  full  bloom  must  make 
a  delightful  appearance.  The  fruit  at  this  time  is  small.  The 
general  complexion  of  the  trees  and  their  foliage  is  different 
from  those  of  New  England. 

Made  our  next  stage  at  Bristol,  Bissennett's  tavern,  where 
we  dined  in  company  with  the  passengers  in  the  stage.  The 
tavern  is  kept  in  high  style.  There  were  eight  passengers, 
my  fellow  traveler,  and  myself  at  table.  There  Avas  nothing 
extraordinary  in  our  dinner,  except  the  number  of  our  dishes, 
which  were  about  eight  or  ten.  Beyond  the  New  England 
States,  no  kind  of  drink  is  set  on  the  table  at  taverns,  but  you 
call  for  what  you  please,  and  it  is  charged  in  the  bill.  There 
was  a  side-table,  well  furnished  with  different  kinds  of  wine 
and  porter,  and  every  one  made  choice  for  himself,  without 
regard  to  others.  But  the  whole  was  charged  in  the  general 
bill  and  the  amount  averaged.  It  was  Ss.  each,  besides  3s. 
which  my  companion  and  myself  had  to  pay  between  us  for 
our  horses.  These  tavern-keepers  excel  in  providing  well  for 
travelers  and  in  their  attendance,  but  they  as  perfectly  under- 
stand the  art  of  making  out  their  bills  when  they  have  done. 
In  the  stage  were  General  Armstrong  and  Colonel  Franks. 
General  Armstrong  is  a  member  of  Congress,  with  whom  I 
had  had  a  small  acquaintance  in  New  York.  Franks  was  an 
Aid  to  General  Arnold  at  the  time  of  his  desertion  to  the 
British.  Both  of  them  high  Bucks,  and  affected,  as  I  con- 
ceived, to  hold  the  New  England  States  in  contempt.  They 
had  repeatedly  touched  my  Yankee  blood  in  their  conversation 
at  table ;  but  I  was  much  on  the  reserve,  until  after  we  had 
dined.  Some  severe  reflections  on  the  conduct  of  Rhode 
Island  and  the  insurgency  in  Massachusetts,  placing  the  two 
states  in  the  same  point  of  light,  induced  me  to  observe  that, 
"  I  had  no  doubt  but  that  the  conduct  of"  Rhode  Island  would 
prove  of  infinite  service  to  the  Union,  that  the  insurgency  in 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  251 

Massachusetts  would  eventually  tend  to  invigorate  and  estab- 
lish our  Government,  and  that  I  conceived  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, divided  and  distracted  as  she  then  was  in  her  councils 
(the  large  county  of  Luzerne  on  the  eve  of  an  insurrection),  to 
he  in  as  hazardous  a  situation  as  any  on  the  Continent."  This 
instantly  brought  on  a  Avarm  fracas,  indeed.  The  cudgels 
were  taken  up  on  both  sides ;  the  contest  as  fierce  as  if  the 
fate  of  empires  depended  on  the  decision ;  the  attention  of 
the  whole  company  engaged.  My  little  companion  was  roused, 
fire  sparkled  in  his  eyes,  and,  like  a  faithful  second,  was  de- 
termined to  support  me.  Right  or  wrong,  he  would  contradict 
every  thing  advanced  by  my  antagonists.  At  length,  victory 
declared  in  our  favor.  Armstrong  began  to  make  concessions ; 
Franks,  with  more  reluctance,  at  length  gave  up  the  ground. 
Both  acknowledged  the  New  England  States  were  entitled  to 
an  equal  share  of  merit  with  any  in  the  Union,  and  declared 
they  had  no  intention  to  reflect.  We  had  the  satisfaction  to 
quit  the  field  with  an  air  of  triumph,  which  ray  little  com- 
panion enjoyed  with  high  relish ;  nor  could  he  forget  it  all  the 
way  to  Philadelphia.  But  we  parted  with  our  antagonists  on 
terms  of  perfect  good  humor  and  complaisance.  My  com- 
panion frequently  mentioned,  afterwards,  the  pleasure  it  gave 
him  to  see  Armstrong  and  Franks  so  completely  taken  ddwn, 
as  he  expressed  it,  which  led  me  to  conclude  he  was  of  the 
party  opposed  to  them  in  political  quarrels  at  Philadelphia. 

Bristol  is  a  considerable  town.  The  houses  are  built  rather 
in  the  Dutch  style,  though  generally  higher,  and  not  so  large 
on  the  ground.  There  is  considerable  commerce  carried  on 
here.  Vessels  may  lie  alongside  the  houses  on  the  bank  of 
the  river.  The  tavern  where  we  dined  is  a  very  large  pile  of 
buildings,  with  numerous  apartments.  It  stands  on  the  bank 
of  the  Delaware,  and  has  a  most  delightful  piazza  on  the  side 
next  the  river,  which  extends  the  whole  length  of  the  house, 
and  is  entirely  over  the  water,  afi"ording  a  most  beautiful  pros- 
pect up  and  doAvn  this  majestic  river.  On  the  opposite  shore 
(Jersey  side)  is  Burlington,  a  large,  well-built  town  ;  a  hand- 
some Meeting  House,  with  a  steeple  ;  and  considerable  ship- 
ping, at  the  wharves.  In  Bristol  the  only  building  I  ob- 
served for  worship  was  a  small  low  church. 


252  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

From  this  place  to  Philadelphia  the  land  is  exceedingly  rich 
and  fertile,  producing  a  great  quantity  of  excellent  fruit,  In- 
dian corn,  and  the  finest  wheat.  In  some  places  I  saw  fields  of 
corn,  the  rows  of  which  I  judged  to  be  a  mile  in  length.  The 
people  do  not  hoe  their  corn  at  all,  but  plow  it  both  ways. 
The  farmers'  houses  are  very  neat,  but  not  large,  generally 
two-stories  high,  and  sometimes  three,  universally  painted. 
Some  of  them  are  built  of  logs,  and  these  are  also  painted,  and 
very  handsome.  Their  gardens  are  well  formed  and  abound 
with  flowers,  as  well  as  fruit  trees  and  esculents.  I  saw  but 
few  laborers  in  their  fields,  for  the  wheat  harvest  was  gen^ 
erally  over.  The  numerous  shocks  of  grain  in  the  field  de- 
monstrated the  richness  of  the  soil.  The  face  of  the  country 
is  level,  and  the  roads  fine.  At  almost  every  house  the  far- 
mers and  their  Avives  were  sitting  in  their  cool  entries,  or 
under  the  piazzas  and  shady  trees  about  their  doors.  I  ob- 
served the  men  generally  wore  fine  Holland  shirts,  -with  the 
sleeves  plaited,  the  women  in  clean,  cool,  white  dresses,  en- 
joying the  ease  and  pleasures  of  domestic  life,  with  few  cares, 
less  labor,  and  abounding  in  plent}^. 

Five  miles  from  Bristol  we  crossed  a  large  river,  called 
Shajniny,*  on  a  floating  bridge.  Ten  miles  further,  we  passed 
through  Frankfort,  a  Dutch  village  ;  the  houses  compact  on 
each  side  of  the  street  for  about  a  mile,  but  no  buildings  of 
consequence.  From  this  to  Philadelphia  is  five  miles. 
Passed  over  many  fine  stone  bridges,  supported  by  arches. 

We  arrived  at  Philadelphia  half  after  six,  and  my  com- 
panion conducted  me  to  the  Indian  Queen,  a  livery  tavern, 
kept  by  Thompson.  Here  we  exchanged  names,  but  I  Avas  so 
unfortunate,  in  less  than  ten  minutes,  to  lose  his  name,  and 
can  not  recollect  it.  He  promised  to  call  on  me  the  next 
morning.  Spent  the  evening  with  several  members  ot  Con- 
gress. 


*Now  called  Neshanimv  Creek. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  253 


CHAPTER   VII. 

At  New  York  and  Philadklphia — Lkttkks  to  Hazaud  and  Sargknt — 

Diary  of   1787. 

Friday,  July  13.  This  tavern  (Indian  Queen)  is  situated  in 
Third  Street,  between  Market  Street  and  Chestnut  Street,  and 
is  not  far  from  the  center  of  the  city.  It  is  kept  in  an  ele- 
gant style,  and  consists  of  a  large  pile  of  buildings,  Avith 
many  spacious  halls,  and  numerous  small  apartments,  appro- 
priated for  lodging  rooms.  As  soon  as  I  had  inquired  of  the 
bar-keeper,  when  I  arrived  last  evening,  if  I  could  be  fur- 
nished with  lodgings,  a  livery  servant  Avas  ordered  immediately 
to  attend  me,  who  received  my  baggage  from  the  hostler,  and 
conducted  me  to  the  apartment  assigned  by  the  bar-keeper, 
which  was  a  rather  small  but  a  very  handsome  chamber  (No.  9), 
furnished  with  a  rich  field  bed,  bureau,  table  with  drawers,  a 
large  looking-glass,  neat  chairs,  and  other  furniture.  Its  front 
was  east,  and,  being  in  the  third  story,  afforded  a  fine  prospect 
toward  the  river  and  the  Jersey  shore.  The  servant  that  at- 
tended me  was  a  young,  sprightly,  well-built  black  fellow, 
neatly  dressed — blue  coat,  sleeves  and  cape  red,  and  buff 
waistcoat  and  breeches,  the  bosom  of  his  shirt  ruffled,  and 
hair  powdered.  After  he  had  brought  up  my  baggage  and 
properly  deposited  it  in  the  chamber,  he  brought  two  of  the 
latest  London  magazines  and  laid  on  the  table.  I  ordered 
him  to  call  a  barber,  furnish  me  with  a  bowl  of  water  for 
washing,  and  to  have  tea  on  the  table  by  the  time  I  was 
dressed.  My  intention  was  to  have  taken  a  walk,  and  deliv- 
ered some  of  my  letters  in  the  evening,  but  so  much  time  was 
occupied  in  shifting  my  clothes,  getting  from  under  the  hands 
of  the  barber,  and  taking  tea,  I  found  it  too  late,  and  besides 
felt  myself  not  a  little  fatigued  with  my  day's  journey,  which 
had  been  43  miles  since  10  in  the  morning.  Distance  from 
New  York,  95  miles,  and  from  home,  397. 

Being  told,  while  I  was  at  tea,  that  a  number  of  the  Mem- 


254  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

bers  of  the  Continental  Convention,  now  convened  in  this  city 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  Federal  Constitution,  lodged  in 
this  house,  and  that  two  of  them  were  from  Massachusetts, 
immediately  after  tea,  I  sent  into  their  Hall  (for  they  live  by 
themselves)  to  Mr.  Strong,  and  requested  to  speak  with  him. 
We  had  never  been  personally  acquainted,  nor  had  I  any  letter 
to  him,  but  we  had  both  of  us  an  hearsay  knowledge  of  each 
other,  and  Mr.  Gerry  had  lately  mentioned  to  Mr.  Strong  that 
he  daily  expected  me,  in  consequence  of  a  letter  he  had  rcr 
ceived  from  Governor  Bowdoin.  Mr.  Strong*  very  politely 
introduced  me  to  Mr.  Gorham,  of  Charlestown,  Mass ;  Mr. 
Madison  and  Mr.  Mason  and  his  son,  of  Virginia ;  Governor 
Martin,  Hon.  Hugh  Williamson,  of  North  Carolina ;  the  Hon. 
John  Rutledge  and  Mr.  Pinckney,  of  South  Carolina ;  Mr. 
Hamilton,  of  New  York,  who  were  lodgers  in  the  house,  and 
to  several  other  gentlemen  who  Avere  spending  the  evening 
with  them.  I  spent  the  evening  with  these  gentlemen  very 
agreeably.  Mr.  Strong  and  Mr.  Gorham  insisted  on  my  sit- 
ting a  while  Avith  them,  after  the  other  gentlemen  retired,  that 
they  might  inquire  with  more  freedom  and  more  minutely  into 
state  affairs  in  the  Massachusetts.  We  sat  until  half  after 
one.  They  both  of  them  very  politely  offered  to  wait  on  me 
to  any  part  of  the  city,  and  to  introduce  me  to  any  gentleman 
of  their  acquaintance  I  should  wish  to  see.  But  I  assured 
them  that  my  business  Avith  Congress  required  so  speedy  a  re- 
turn to  NeAv  York  that  I  should  be  able  to  spend  very  little 
time  in  Philadelphia,  and  that  my  introductory  letters  Avere  so 
numerous  that  I  doubted  Avhether  I  should  be  able  to  deliver 
them  all.  Mr.  Strong  proposed  going  Avith  me  in  the  morn- 
ing to  Mr.  Gerry's,  as  early  as  I  pleased,  and  so  wished  them 
good-night. 

I  rose  very  early  this  morning,  and  the  servant  assigned  me 


*Hon.  Caleb  Strong,  LL.D.  Governor  of  Massachusetts.  Born  at 
Northampton,  Miij^s.,  1745;  graduated  at  Harvard,  1764;  studied  law; 
a  member  of  Massachusetts  Legislature  during  the  war.  In  1787, 
aided  in  forming  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  Eight  years 
in  the  Senate  of  United  States.  Governor  from  1800  to  1807,  and 
1812-15.  He  died  1817.  A  man  of  sound  piety,  exemplary  habits,  and 
firmness. — Dr.  <S.  P.  Hildreth. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  255 

came  into  the  chamber  before  I  was  dressed,  to  know  my  com- 
mands.    Mr.  Strong  was  up  as  early  as  myself,  and  we  took  a 
walk  to  Mr.  Gerry's,*  in  Spruce  street,  where  we  breakfasted. 
Few  old  bachelors,  I    believe,  have  been  more  fortunate  in 
matrimony  than  Mr.  Gerry.     His  lady  is  young,  very  hand- 
some, and  exceedingly  amiable.     She  appears  to  be  possessed 
of  fine  accomplishments.     I  should  suppose  her  not  more  than 
17,  and  believe  he  must   be   turned  of  55.     They  have  been 
married  about  eighteen  months,  and  have  a  fine  son  about  two 
months  old,  of  which  they  appear  both  to  be  extravagantly 
fond.     Mr.  Gerry  has  hired  a  house,  and  lives   in   a  familjpn, 
state.    I  was  surprised  to  find  how  early  ladies  in  Philadelphia    \  ■ 
can  rise  in  the  morning,  and  to  see  them  at  breakfast  at  half     1 
after  five,  when  in  Boston  they  can  hardly  see  a  breakfast     1 
table  at  nine  without   falling  into  hysterics.     I  observed  to      L 
Mrs.  Gerry  that  it  seemed  to  be  an  early  hour  for  ladies  to       '■ 
breakfast.     She  said  she  always  rose  early,  and  found  it  con- 
ducive to  her  health.     She  was  inured  to  it  from  her  childhood 
in  New  York,  and  that  it  was  the  practice  of  the  best  families 
in  Philadelphia.     Mr.  Gerry  had  received  a  letter  from  Gov- 
ernor Bowdoin,  requesting  that  he  would  Avait  on  me  to  Dr. 
Franklin's  in  person,  when  I  arrived  in  the  city.     Although  I 
had  several  introductory  letters  to  the  Doctor,  yet  I  wished 
for  the  company  of  some  gentleman  of  my  acquaintance  when 
I  paid  my  respects  to  that  venerable   sage.     Mr.  Gerry  ex- 
pressed a  great  deal  of  pleasure    and  satisfaction  in   having 
the  opportunity  of  introducing  me  to  the  Doctor,  and   sup- 

*  Elbridge  Gerry,  born  in  Marblehead,  Mass.,  July  1 7,  1 744.  Graduated 
at  Harvard  University,  1772.  In  tlie  State  Legislature  in  1773;  in  the 
Provincial  Congress,  1774;  and  from  tlience  was  sent  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  Signer  of  the  Declaration  ot  Independence.  After  the 
peace  of  1783,  served  in  the  Congress  of  Confederation.  Member  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention.  In  1797,  envoy  to  France.  Subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Massachusetts;  and  afterward  Vice-president  of 
the  United  States,  in  which  office  he  died  at  Washington  City,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1814. — Am.  Biog.  {Samuel  L.  Knapp). 

Mrs.  Gerry  was  a  daughter  of  James  Thompson,  and  was  as  distin- 
guished by  her  beauty  and  peisonal  worth  as  by  her  family  and  social 
connections.     She  died  in  1849. — The  Be}>ublican  Court. 


256  Life  of  Bev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

posed  the  best  time  would  be  about  five  in   the   afternoon — 
which  was  agreed  on. 

Mr.  Strong  went  with  me,  after  breakfast,  to  Dr.  Morgan's, 
in  Pine  Street,  to  whom  I  had  letters  from  Dr.  Warren,  of 
Boston,  and  his  brother,  at  Princeton.  The  Doctor  received 
me  with  politeness,  and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  introducing  Mr. 
Strong  to  him,  who  had  not  been  acquainted  with  him.  But 
we  were  very  soon  interrupted  with  an  urgent  message  to  the 
Doctor  to  visit,  instantly,  a  person  in  a  desperate  situation. 
The  Doctor,  however,  while  his  carriage  was  getting  ready, 
Avent  with  us  to  Dr.  Clarkson's,  in  the  same  street,  where  he 
and  Mr.  Strong  left  me.  Dr.  Clarkson*  is  one  of  those  fine, 
accomplished,  benevolent  characters  which  inspire  the  most 
exalted  ideas  of  human  nature.  I  found  him  fully  to  answer 
the  character  I  had  received  of  him.  My  letters  to  him  were 
from  his  much-esteemed  friend,  Mr.  Belknap,  and  his  brother- 
in-law,  Mr.  Hazard.  AVhen  he  had  read  my  letters,  he  re- 
ceived me,  not  merely  in  the  common  formalities  of  polite- 
ness, but  with  the  warm  affection  and  friendship  of  an  inti- 
mate acquaintance  that  had  been  long  absent.  When  he  found 
my  stay  in  the  city  must  be  very  short,  he  dismissed  all  his 
business,  sent  his  servant  to  inform  his  patients  that  it  was 
not  probable  he  should  be  able  to  see  them  on  that  day  or  the 
next ;  if  any  thing  special  occurred,  he  must  be  particularly 
informed,  and  devoted  himself  entirely  to  wait  on  me.  I  was 
formally  introduced  to  his  son,  who  had  just  before  received 
Episcopal  Ordination  from  Dr.  White,  the  Bishop  of  this  State, 
and  is  about  to  be  settled  in  one  of  the  churches  in  this  city ; 
and  to  his  three  little  daughters.  Mrs.  Clarkson  was  confined 
above  stairs  by  a  nervous  weakness  of  long  standing,  which 
prevented  my  seeing  her.  After  engaging  me  to  dine  with 
him,  he  ordered  his  Phaeton  to  be  harnessed,  that  we  might 
take  a  general  view  of  the  city,  etc.  We  rode  out  of  the  city 
on  the  western  side,  toward  the  Schuylkill,  and  passed  by  the 
Hospital  and  Bettering-house. 

We  continued   our  route,  in  view  of  the  Schuylkill,  and  up 

*Gerardus  Clarkson,  M.  D.,  ;ui  eminent  physician  of  Philadelphia; 
Commenced  practice  as  early  as  1774.  Died  in  September,  171)0,  aged 
63  years.— Dr.  S.  P.  Hiklreth. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  257 

the  river  several  miles,  and  took  a  view  of  a  number  of  Coun- 
try-seats, one  belonging  to  Mr.  R.  Morris,  the  American  finan- 
cier, and  who  is  said  to  be  possessed  of  the  greatest  fortune 
in  America.  His  country-seat  is  not  yet  completed,  but  it 
will  be  superb.  It  is  planned  on  a  large  scale,  the  gardens 
and  walks  are  extensive,  and  the  villa,  situated  on  an  eminence, 
has  a  commanding  prospect  down  the  Schuylkill  to  the  Dela- 
ware. 

We  returned  to  the  northern  side  of  the  city,  and  passed 
through  the  principal  streets  in  the  longest  direction  of  the 
city  and  parallel  with  the  Delaware.  We  also  passed  up  and 
down  most  of  the  streets  in  the  cross  direction.  This  gave 
me  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  Avhole  of  the  city,  of  viewing 
it  in  several  directions,  and  observing  all  the  public  buildings. 
In  this  tour  I  delivered  most  of  my  letters,  but  had  only  time 
to  deliver  them,  for  the  Doctor  waited  for  me  in  his  carriage. 
I  Avas  therefore  obliged  to  inform  them  that  my  stay  would  be 
very  short  in  the  city,  and  was  obliged  to  decline  all  their  in- 
vitations. We  returned  to  the  Doctor's  house  about  twelve, 
having  rode,  by  the  Doctor's  computation,  near  twenty  miles. 
His  horses  were  very  large  and  fine,  and  he  had  as  much  as  he 
could  well  do  to  rein  them. 

After  refreshing  ourselves,  we  took  a  ramble  on  foot,  called 
on  Doctor  Rush,  whom  we  fortunately  found  at  home.  The 
Doctor  is  the  complete  gentleman,  and  one  of  the  first  literary 
characters  in  America.  After  reading  my  letter,  and  usual 
ceremony,  he  expressed  much  satisfaction  in  having  an  oppor- 
tunity to  see  me,  and  told  me  he  had  for  some  time  wished 
for  a  correspondence.  He  thanked  me  very  particularly  for 
my  Botanical  Paper  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  American  Acad- 
emy, and  said  that  Dr.  Franklin  and  he  had  desired  the  prin- 
ters of  the  Columbian  Magazine  to  publish  the  extracts  from 
it,  which  had  appeared  in  that  publication.  He  approved  of 
my  plan,  and  appeared  very  anxious  that  I  should  pursue  it. 
He  observed  that  they  were  endeavoring  to  raise  a  fund  for  es- 
tablishing a  Botanical  Garden  in  that  city,  Avhich  he  hoped 
they  should  be  able  to  effect,  and  assured  me  that  I  was  the 
only  person  who  had  been  in  nomination  to  take  the  super- 
17 


258  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

intendency,  and  give  the  Botanical  lectures  to  the  students  in 
Physics  of  the  University.  This  led  me  to  inquire  after 
Mr.  Cox.  the  present  Professor  of  Botanj^  in  the  Univer- 
sity here,  and  to  observe  that  I  was  not  so  fortunate  as 
to  have  a  letter  to  him,  but  wished  for  the  favor  of  being 
introduced,  as  I  understood  he  had  studied  under  the  im- 
mediate instruction  of  the  great  Linnaeus.  Both  of  the  gen- 
tlemen readily  oifered  to  introduce  me,  but  both  observed 
they  believed  it  Avould  afford  me  very  little  satisfaction; 
that  he  did  not  pretend  to  give  lectures,  had  never  attended  to 
the  practical  part,  and  perhaps  was  not  a  very  complete  master 
of  the  theory.  Finding  that  they  seemed  inclined  to  keep  their 
Botanist  out  of  sight,  I  did  not  insist  on  seeing  him.  But  Dr. 
Rush  observed  that  Mr.  Bartram  *  had  much  more  botanical 
knowledge  than  Cox,  and  employed  much  of  his  time  in  the 
examination  of  plants.  He  imagined  I  would  be  pleased  with 
him,  and  wished  I  would  find  time  to  visit  him.  Dr.  Clarkson 
proposed  a  ride  early  the  next  morning  to  Bartram's  seat,  two 
miles  beyond  the  Schuylkill.  Dr.  Rush  said  he  should  be  very 
happy  to  accompany  us,  but  it  was  the  day  for  his  formal  visit 
to  the  Hospital,  which  must  commence  precisely  at  11  o'clock, 
and  he  had  some  special  business  to  settle  with  the  Directors, 
whom  he  had  engaged  to  meet  at  seven  in  the  morning,  and 
was  of  such  a  nature  that  it  could  not  be  postponed.  He 
asked  me  if  I  had  seen  the  Hospital,  or  had  any  inclination  to 
attend  the  visitation  with  him.  I  then  concluded  to  go  out  to 
Bartram's  wnth  Dr.  Clarkson  in  his  Phaeton  at  six,  and  we 


*  William  Bartram,  naturalist;  boiii,  King.sissing,  Penii.,  IT-iO;  died, 
1823.  Studied  r.atural  history  with  his  father.  In  1773  to  i77S,  he 
explored  Florida,  the  Carolinas,  and  Georgia,  and  transmitted  to  his 
employer.  Dr.  Fothergill,  at  London,  his  valuable  collections.  In  1782, 
he  was  elected  Professor  of  Botany  in  the  University  of  Philadelphia, 
but  declined  on  account  of  ill  health.  In  1786,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  and  was  admitted  into  other 
scientific  bodies,  home  and  abroad.  In  1791,  he  published  a  book  of 
travels,  including  an  account  of  the  Creek,  Cherokee,  and  Choctaw 
Indians.  lie  was  the  author  ot  the  most  complete  table  of  American 
Ornithology  which  had  appeared  previous  to  the  work  of  Wilson.  He 
published  other  books,  among  them  the  "  Memoirs  of  J.  Bartram." — 
See  Drakes  Dictionary  Am.  Bioj. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  259 

were  to  meet  Di'.  Rush  at  the  Hospital  at  11  o'clock,  and  en- 
gaged to  dine  with  him.  We  returned  to  Dr.  Clarkson's  and 
dined. 

Immediately  after  Dinner,  we  called  on  Mr.  Peale,*  to  see 
his  collection  of  paintings  and  natural  curiosities.  We  were 
conducted  into  a  room  by  a  boy,  who  told  us  that  Mr.  Peale 
would  wait  on  us  in  a  minute  or  two.  He  desired  us,  however, 
to  walk  into  the  room  where  the  curiosities  were,  and  showed 
us  a  long  narrow  entry  which  led  into  the  room.  I  observed, 
through  a  glass  window  at  my  right  hand,  a  gentleman  close 
to  me,  standing  with  a  pencil  in  one  hand,  and  a  small  sheet 
of  ivory  in  the  other,  and  his  eyes  directed  to  the  opposite 
side  of  the  room,  as  though  he  was  taking  some  object  on  his 
ivory  sheet.  Dr.  Clarkson  did  not  see  this  man  until  he 
stepped  into  the  room,  but  instantly  turned  about  and  came 
back,  saying,  "  Mr.  Peale  is  very  busy,  taking  the  picture  of 
something  with  his  pencil.  We  will  step  back  into  the  other 
room  and  wait  till  he  is  at  leisure."  We  returned  through  the 
entry,  but  as  Ave  entered  the  room  Ave  came  from,  Ave  met  Mr. 
Peale  coming  to  us.  The  Doctor  started  back  in  astonishment, 
and  cried  out,  "  Mr.  Peale,  hoAV  is  it  possible  you  should  get 
out  of  the  other  room  to  meet  us  here?"  Mr.  Peale  smiled. 
"  I  have  not  been  in  the  other  room,"  says  he,  "  for  some  time." 
"  No  !"  says  Clarkson,  "  Did  not  I  see  you  there  this  moment, 
with  your  pencil  and  ivory  ?"  "  Why,  do  you  think  you  did  ?" 
says  Peale.  "  Do  I  think  I  did?  Yes,"  says  the  Doctor,  "  I 
saw  you  there  if  I  ever  saAV  you  in  my  life."     "  Well,"  says 

*Charles  Wilson  Peale;  born,  Chestertown,  Md.,  1741:  died,  Phila- 
delphia, 1827.  He  was  apprenticed  to  a  saddler,  and  was  successively  a 
saddler,  harness-maker,  silversmith,  watch-maker,  carver,  and  portrait 
painter.  As  a  recreation  from  his  business  of  portrait  painting,  he  be- 
came a  sportsman  and  an  enthusiastic  student  of  natural  history.  He 
manufactured  for  himself  a  violin  and  guitar,  and  invented  a  variety  of 
machines.  He  was  also  a  dentist,  and  the  first  in  this  country  to  make 
sets  of  enamel  teeth.  He  received  instruction  in  painting  from  Copley 
in  Boston  and  Benjamin  West  in  London.  He  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Trenton  and  Germantown,  as  Captain  of  a  Company  in  the  American 
Army.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  legislature  in  1777. 
His  museum  was  the  first  of  the  kind  in  America. — iS'ee  Drake's  Diction' 
ary  Am.  Biography. 


260  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Peale,  "  let  us  go  and  see."  When  we  returned,  we  found  the 
man  standing  as  before.  My  astonishment  was  now  nearly 
equal  to  that  of  Dr.  Clarkson  ;  for,  although  I  knew  what  I 
saw,  yet  I  beheld  two  men,  so  perfectly  alike  that  I  could  not 
discern  the  minutest  diiference.  One  of  them,  indeed,  had  no 
motion ;  but  he  appeared  to  me  to  be  as  absolutely  alive  as  the 
other,  and  I  could  hardly  help  wondering  that  he  did  not  smile 
or  take  a  part  in  the  conversation.  This  was  a  piece  of  wax- 
work which  Mr,  Peale  had  just  finished,  in  which  he  had  taken 
himself.  So  admirable  a  performance  must  have  done  great 
honor  to  his  genius  if  it  had  been  that  of  any  other  person, 
but  I  think  it  is  much  more  extraordinary  that  he  should  be 
able  so  perfectly  to  take  himself.  To  what  perfection  is  this 
art  capable  of  being  carried  !  By  this  method,  our  particular 
friends  and  ancestors  might  be  preserved  in  perfect  likeness 
to  the  latest  generation.  We  seem  to  be  able  in  some  degree 
to  disappoint  the  ravages  of  time,  and  prevent  mortality  itself, 
the  common  lot  of  man,  from  concealing  from  us  in  its  dreary 
retreats  our  dearest  connections.  This  room  is  constructed  in 
a  very  singular  manner,  for  the  purpose  of  Exhibitions,  where 
various  scenery  in  paintings  is  exhibited  in  a  manner  that  has  a 
most  astonishing  effect.  It  is  very  long  but  not  very  wide,  has 
no  windows,  nor  floor  over  it,  but  is  open  up  to  the  roof,  Avhich 
is  two  or  three  stories,  and  from  above  the  light  is  admitted  in 
greater  or  less  quantities  at  pleasure.  The  walls  of  the  room 
are  covered  with  paintings,  both  portrait  and  historic.  One 
particular  part  is  assigned  to  the  portraits  of  the  principal 
American  characters  who  appeared  on  the  stage  during  the 
late  revolution,  either  in  the  councils  or  armies  of  their  country. 
The  drapery  was  excellent,  and  the  likenesses  of  all  of  whom 
I  had  any  personal  knowledge  were  well  taken.  I  fancied 
myself  introduced  to  all  the  General  Ofl&cers.  that  had  been  in 
the  field  during  the  war,  whether  dead  or  alive,  for  I  think  he 
had  every  one,  and  to  most  of  the  members  of  Congress  and 
other  distinguished^  characters.  To  grace  his  collection,  he 
had  a  number  of  the  most  distinguished  clergymen  in  the 
middle  and  southern  states  who  had,  in  some  way  or  other, 
been  active  in  the  revolution.  In  other  parts  were  a  number 
of  fine  historic  pieces,  executed  in  a  masterly  manner.     At 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  261 

the  upper  end  of  the  room,  General  Washington,  at  full  length 
and  nearly  as  large  as  the  life,  was  placed,  as  President  of 
this  sage  and  martial  assembly.  At  the  opposite  end,  under  a 
small  gallery,  his  natural  curiosities  were  arranged  in  a  most 
romantic  and  amusing  manner.  There  was  a  mound  of  earth, 
considerably  raised  and  covered  with  green  turf,  from  which  a 
number  of  trees  ascended  and  branched  out  in  different  direc- 
tions. On  the  declivity  of  this  mound  was  a  small  thicket, 
and  just  below  it  an  artificial  pond ;  on  the  other  side  a  num- 
ber of  large  and  small  rocks  of  different  kinds,  collected  from 
different  parts  of  the  world,  and  represented  the  rude  state  in 
which  they  are  generally  found.  At  the  foot  of  the  mound 
were  holes  dug  and  the  earth  thrown  up,  to  show  the  different 
kinds  of  clay,  ochre,  coal,  marl,  etc.,  which  he  had  collected 
from  different  parts  ;  also,  various  ores  and  minerals.  Around 
the  pond  was  a  beach,  on  which  was  exhibited  an  assortment 
of  shells  of  different  kinds,  turtles,  frogs,  toads,  lizards,  water- 
snakes,  etc.  In  the  pond  was  a  collection  of  fish  with  their 
skins  stuffed,  water-fowls,  such  as  the  different  species  of 
geese,  ducks,  cranes,  herons,  etc.;  all  having  the  appearance 
of  life,  for  their  skins  were  admirably  preserved.  On  the 
mound  were  those  birds  which  commonly  walk  on  the  ground, 
as  the  partridge,  quail,  heath-hen,  etc.;  also,  different  kinds  of 
wild  animals — bear,  deer,  leopard,  tiger,  wild-cat,  fox,  raccoon, 
rabbit,  squirrel,  etc.  In  the  thickets  and  among  the  rocks, 
land-snakes,  rattle-snakes  of  an  enormous  size,  black,  glass, 
striped,  and  a  number  of  other  snakes.  The  boughs  of  the 
trees  were  loaded  with  birds,  some  of  almost  every  species  in 
America,  and  many  exotics.  In  short,  it  is  not  in  my  power 
to  give  any  particular  account  of  the  numerous  species  of 
fossils  and  animals,  but  only  their  general  arrangement. 
What  heightened  the  view  of  this  singular  collection  was  that 
they  were  all  real,  either  their  substance  or  their  skins  finely 
preserved.  I  was  much  mortified  that  it  was  not  in  my  power 
to  see  one  of  his  exhibitions ;  but  these  can  be  performed  to 
advantage  only  in  the  night,  require  very  considerable  and  ex- 
pensive preparation,  and  this  is  not  the  season  of  the  year  in 
which  they  are  given.  This  view  seems  to  give  some  idea  of 
what  can  be  done,  but  Dr.  Clarkson's  acoount  of  them  exceeds 


262  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

all  credibility.  Mr.  Peale's  animals  reminded  me  of  Noalts 
Ark,  into  which  was  received  every  kind  of  beast  and  creeping 
thing  in  which  there  was  life.  But  I  can  hardly  conceive  that 
even  Noah  could  have  boasted  of  a  better  collection.  Mr. 
Peale  was  very  complaisant,  and  gave  us  every  information 
we  desired.  He  requested  me  to  favor  him  with  any  of  the 
animals  and  fossils  from  this  part  of  America,  not  already  in 
his  museum,  which  it  might  be  in  my  power  to  collect. 

From  Mr.  Peale's  we  went  to  the  State  House.  This  is  a 
noble  building ;  the  architecture  is  in  a  richer  and  grander 
style  than  any  public  building  I  have  before  seen.  The  first 
story  is  not  an  open  walk,  as  is  usual  in  buildings  of  this  kind. 
In  the  middle,  however,  is  a  very  broad  cross-aisle,  and  the 
floor  above  supported  by  two  rows  of  pillars.  From  this  aisle 
is  a  broad  opening  to  a  large  hall,  toward  the  west  end,  which 
■  opening  is  supported  by  arches  and  pillars.  In  this  Hall  the 
Courts  are  held,  and,  as  you  pass  the  aisle,  you  have  a  full 
view  of  the  Court.  The  Supreme  Court  was  now  sitting. 
This  bench  consists  of  only  three  judges.  Their  robes  are 
scarlet;  the  lawyers',  black.  The  Chief  Judge,  Mr.  McKean, 
was  sitting  with  his  hat  on,  which  is  the  custom,  but  struck 
me  as  being  very  odd,  and  seemed  to  derogate  from  the  dig- 
nity of  a  judge.  The  hall  east  of  the  aisle  is  employed  for 
public  business.  The  chamber  over  it  is  now  occupied  by  the 
Continental  Convention,  which  is  now  sitting,  but  sentries  are 
planted  Avithout  and  within — to  prevent  any  person  from  ap- 
proaching near — who  appear  to  be  very  alert  in  the  perform- 
ance of  their  duty. 

We  passed  through  this  broad  aisle  into  the  3Iall.  It  is 
small,  nearly  square,  and  I  believe  does  not  contain  more  than 
one  acre.  As  you  enter  the  Mall  through  the  State  House, 
which  is  the  only  avenue  to  it,  it  appears  to  be  nothing  more 
than  a  large  inner  Court-yard  to  the  State  House,  ornamented 
with  trees  and  walks.  But  here  is  a  fine  display  of  rural  fancy 
and  elegance.  It  was  so  lately  laid  out  in  its  present  form 
that  it  has  not  assumed  that  air  of  grandeur  which  time  will 
give  it.  The  trees  are  yet  small,  but  most  judiciously  ar- 
ranged. The  artificial  mounds  of  earth,  and  depressions,  and 
small    groves    in  the  squares    have  a  most    delightful  effect. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  263 

The  numerous  walks  are  well  graveled  and  rolled  hard  ;  they 
are  all  in  a  serpentine  direction,  which  heightens  the  beauty, 
and  affords  constant  variety.  That  painful  sameness,  com- 
monly to  be  met  with  in  garden-alleys,- and  others  works  of 
this  kind,  is  happily  avoided  here,  for  there  are  no  two  parts 
of  the  Mall  that  are  alike.  Hogarth's  "  Line  of  Beauty  "  is 
here  completely  verified.  The  public  are  indebted  to  the  fer- 
tile fancy  and  taste  of  Mr.  Sam'l  Vaughan,  Esq.,  for  the  ele- 
gance of  this  plan.  It  was  laid  out  and  executed  under  his 
direction  about  three  years  ago.  The  Mall  is  at  present 
nearly  surrounded  with  buildings,  which  stand  near  to  the 
board  fence  that  incloses  it,  and  the  parts  now  vacant  will, 
in  a  short  time,  be  filled  up.  On  one  part  the  Philosoph- 
ical Society  are  erecting  a  large  building  for  holding  their 
meetings  and  depositing  their  Library  and  Cabinet.  This 
building  is  begun,  and,  on  another  part,  a  County  Court-house 
is  now  going  up.  But,  after  all  the  beauty  and  elegance  of 
this  public  walk,  there  is  one  circumstance  that  must  forever 
be  disgusting,  and  must  greatly  diijiinish  the  pleasure  and 
amusement  which  these  walks  would  otherwise  afford.  At 
the  foot  of  the  Mall,  and  opposite  to  the  Court-house,  is  the 
Prison,  fronting  directly  to  the  Mall.  It  is  very  long  and 
high,  I  believe,  four  stories,  and  built  of  stone.  The  building 
itself,  which  is  elegant,  would  appear  well,  were  it  not  for  its 
unsavory  contents.  Your  ears  are  constantly  insulted  with 
their  Billingsgate  language,  or  your  feelings  wounded  with 
their  pitiful  complaints.  Their  long  reed  poles,  with  a  little 
cap  of  cloth  at  the  end,  are  constantly  extended  over  into  the 
Mall,  in  order  to  receive  your  charit}'^,  which  they  are  inces- 
santly begging.  And  if  you  refuse  them,  they  load  you  with 
the  most  foul  and  horrid  imprecations.  In  short,  whatever 
part  of  the  Mall  you  are  in,  this  cage  of  unclean  birds  is  con- 
stantly in  your  view,  and  their  doleful  cries  attacking  your 
ears. 

We  next  made  a  visit  to  the  University.  On  our  way  we 
called  at  Dr.  Ewing's,  the  Provost  of  the  University,  who  was 
gone  with  Mr.  Rittenhouse  and  Mr.  Hutchins  to  settle  the  line 
between  New  York  and  Massachusetts,  and  whom  I  had  seen 
at  New  York.     Dr.  Ewing  gave  me  a  letter  to  his  lady,  which 


264  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

I  delivered.  She  told  me  that  she  had  already  received  a 
letter  from  the  Doctor,  informing  her  that  I  should  be  in  the 
city  that  week,  and  that  I  had  given  him  encouragement,  if 
I  spent  the  Sabbath  in  Philadelphia,  of  supplying  his  Pulpit, 
for  the  Doctor  is  not  only  the  President  of  the  University, 
but  the  minister  of  one  of  the  largest  congregations  in  the 
city.  I  assured  Mrs.  Ewing  that  it  would  not  be  in  my  power 
to  supply  his  Desk,  as  I  was  absolutely  obliged  to  leave  the 
city  the  next  day.  The  University  is  near  the  Doctor's  house. 
It  is  a  pretty  large,  but  an  old  and  odd-built  fabric.  It  makes 
no  appearance,  and  the  accommodations  are  very  indifferent- 
The  Hall  is  the  most  elegant  part ;  it  is  pretty  large,  hand- 
somely ornamented,  and  the  inside  work  consists  of  considera- 
ble carving,  in  an  old-fashioned  style.  There  are  very  few 
students  that  reside  within  the  walls,  not  more  than  fifty  ;  but, 
if  you  inquire  the  number  of  students  that  belong  to  the  Uni- 
versity, they  will  tell  you  between  three  and  four  hundred, 
for  all  the  principal  schools  in  the  city  come  within  the  limits 
of  the  charter  of  the  University,  and  are  under  its  govern- 
ment, and  scholars  belonging  to  them  are  admitted  to  Degrees, 
after  having  made  proper  proficiency  in  science.  This  Uni- 
versity was  originally  designed  for  educating  students  in 
Physics  only,  and  was  established  by  Episcopalians  and 
Quakers,  but,  since  the  Revolution,  the  charter  and  privileges 
are  extended,  and  it  furnishes  many  young  gentlemen  for  the 
desk  and  the  bar.  The  endowments  are  very  ample,  support- 
ing a  large  number  of  professors.  The  shortness  of  my  time 
did  not  admit  of  my  calling  on'any  of  them.  We  waited  on 
only  two  of  the  tutors.  The  Library  is  very  snuxll,  consisting 
only  of  a  few  antiquated  authors,  and  the  apparatus  not  much 
better.  Mr.  Rittenhouse's  orrery  is  the  only  instrument 
worthy  of  notice ;  the  Cabinet  is  trifling.  But  the  want  of 
these  in  the  University  is  pretty  Avell  supplied  by  the  large 
and  valuable  collection  of  books,  instruments,  and  natural  cu- 
riosities in  Carpenter's  Hall. 

From  tlie  University  we  went  through  those  streets  where 
the  Meeting  Houses  and  Churches  are  situated,  and  took  a 
view  of  them.  The  principal  are  the  two  large  Meeting  Houses 
belonging  to  Dr.  Ewing  and  Dr.   Sprout ;  two  Churches,  the 


Life  of  Bev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  265 

one  where  Bishop  White  officiates,  and  the  other,  that  of  the 
late  Mr.  Duche.  There  are  a  great  number  of  other  Houses 
of  "Worship  of  different  denominations,  besides  a  Romam  Cath- 
olic Church,  and  a  Synagogue  of  the  Jews.  In  our  ramble  we 
called  a  fcAv  minutes  on  Bishop  White,  who  was  just  going 
out,  and  we  did  not  detain  him,  for  we  had  but  a  moment's 
time.  I  also  called  a  minute  on  Dr.  Sprout,  to  whom  I  had 
letters.  He  is  between  seventy  and  eighty,  and  the  very  pict- 
ure of  Father  Rogers,  of  Ipswich.  The  old  gentleman  urged 
us  exceedingly  to  tarry,  but  it  was  not  in  our  power.  He  is 
the  minister  of  the  Meeting  House  built  for  the  famous  Gil- 
bert Tennent,  and  his  immediate  successor,  but  has  now  a  col- 
leao-ue  settled  with  him.  Our  next  call  was  on  Mr.  John 
Vaughan,*  son  of  Samuel  Vaughan,  Esq.,  and  the  brother  of 

*John,  Samuel,  Charles,  and  Benjamin  Vaughan  were  the  sons  of 
Samuel  and  Sarah  (Hallowell)  Vaughan.  Samuel  Vaughan,  Sr.,  was 
a  wealthy  merchant  who,  after  residing  several  years  in  Jamaica,  re^ 
moved  to  London,  and  from  there  to  America.  Charles  Vaughan  came 
early  to  this  country,  and  settled  in  Boston,  was  married,  November  20, 
1788,  to  Frances  W.,  daughter  of  John  Apthorp,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  by  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Parker,  D.D.,  of  Trinity  Church.  Mr.  Vaughan  was  a 
man  of  great  energy  and  enterprise.  In  his  prosperity  he  stood  among 
the  foremost  rank  of  merchants  in  this  country.  He  was  a  gentleman 
of  courteous  address  iind  extensive  reading.  John  Vaughan  settled 
in  Philadelphia.  For  sixty-five  years  he  was  Secretary  of  the  American 
Philosophical  Society.  He  wrote  some  valuable  articles  which  they 
published.  He  corresponded  with  eminent  men,  and  was  intimately 
acquainted  with  Washington,  Franklin,  and  Jefferson.  He  possessed 
great  public  spirit  and  philanthrophy,  and  his  kindness  secured  him 
many  friends.  He  lived  single,  yet,  from  his  social  qualities,  many  a 
fair  one  wondered  it  should  he  so.  His  extensive  information,  purity 
of  life,  and  tender,  benevolent  feelings  will  always  be  remembered 
while  the  "City  of  Brotherly  Love"  honors  her  worthies.  Reference 
to  the  proceedings  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society  will  show 
how  much  his  loss  was  felt.  Samuel  Vaugtian  died  December  4,  1802. 
Benjamin  Vaughan,  M.D.,  LL.D.,  was 'born  in  Jamaica,  April  19,  1751. 
Sent  to  school  at  Hackney,  England*  afterward,  to  the  .Academy  at 
Warrington,  and  resided  in  the  family  of  his  preceptor,  Dr.  Priestly- 
At  the  age  of  19,  admitted  to  Cambridge  University.  Studied  law  at 
the  Temple,  in  London;  medicine  in  Edinburgh.  Afterward,  became 
Private  Secretary  to  I^ord  Shelburne.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  o* 
William  Manning,  a  wealthy  London  merchant.  (He  was  an  intimate 
friend  of  Franklin,  and  edited  a  volume  of  his  works,  which  appeared 


266  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

my  friends,  Charles  and  Samuel  Vaughan.  I  had  letters  to 
the  old  gentleman,  but,  very  unfortunately  for  me,  he  Avas 
gone  on  a  journey  into  the  Ohio  country.  The  young  gentle- 
man, however,  received  me  with  every  expression  of  warmest 
friendship,  urged  me  to  take  lodgings  with  him,  and  dismissed 
all  business,  to  devote  himself  to  me.  He  mentioned  his 
brothers  having  often  spoken  of  their  acquaintance  with  me, 
and  was  acquainted  with  the  correspondence  which  his  brother 
Samuel  and  I  had  continued  from  our  first  acquaintance.  He 
is  not  married,  and,  since  his  mother  and  sisters  went  to  Lon- 
don in  the  spring  Avith  his  brother  Samuel,  he  and  his  father 
keep  bachelors'  hall  in  a  very  elegant  home  in  fore  street.  He 
is  in  a  very  large  circle  of  trade,  in  partnership  with  another 
young  gentleman.  I  informed  him  of  my  engagement  to  go 
with  Mr.  Gerry  to  Dr.  Franklin's,  and  that  the  hour  was  then 
arrived.  He  could  not  be  denied  the  pleasure,  he  said,  of 
going  with  us,  for  Dr.  Franklin  he  considered  as  his  father, 
having  lived  a  number  of  years  witli  him,  and  the  two  families 
were  so  strongly  connected  that  they  considered  themselves  as 
one  and  the  same. 

When  we  came  to  Mr.  Gerry's,  he  was  waiting  for  us  ;  but, 
as  he  supposed  we  had  time  enough,  and  feeling  myself  much 
fatigued,  we  sat  about  half  an  hour.  There  were  two  young 
ladies  by  the  name  of  Hamlinton  on  a  visit  to  Mr.  Gerry. 
They  were  dressed  very  rich  indeed,  but  were  entirely  socia- 
ble and  agreeable.  Mr.  Vaughan  took  a  large  share  in  the 
conversation,  and,  with  his  easy  and   natural  pleasantry,  kept 


in  Loiulon  in  177'.*.  (See  Parton's  Life  of  Franklin.)  He  emigrated  to 
America,  and  removing  to  Hallowell,  on  the  Kennebec  River,  in  1796, 
where  there  was  a  large  inheritance  of  land  from  his  grandfather. 
Here  he  resided  till  his  death.  His  mansion,  the  "  White  House."  on 
the  hill,  was  the  abode  o^  hospitality.  It  was  furnished  in  a  costly 
style,  but  simple.  He  had  a  fine  library,  supposed  to  contain  10,000 
volumes,  and  made  large  doiiations  of  books  to  Harvard  University  and 
Bowdoin  College.  The  infiuenc'e  a  man  of  fortune,  learning,  and  piety- 
may  exert  in  a  country  village  is  beyond  calculation.  Every  man, 
woman,  and  child  looked  up  to  him.  He  was  the  magnate  of  the 
place.  In  religion,  education,  love  of  reading,  etc.,  he  gave  a  healthy 
tone  to  society.  He  died  at  the  age  of  85. — Hist,  and  Genealogical  Reg., 
Oct.,  1865. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  267 

us  in  a  burst  of  laughter.  I  knew  that  Mr.  Vaughan  was  not 
acquainted  with  Mr.  Gerry.  I  therefore  introduced  him,  Avhich 
Mr.  Gerry  likewise  did  to  his  lady  and  the  company.  But  I 
immediately  supposed  the  young  ladies,  from  his  instant  and 
free  sociability,  were  of  his  most  intimate  acquaintance.  He 
appeared  to  me  to  know  every  thing  about  them  and  every 
body  else  that  was  mentioned  in  the  course  of  the  conversa- 
tion. But,  on  our  way  to  Dr.  Franklin's,  he  asked  me  if  those 
young  ladies  were  of  my  acquaintance,  and  what  were  their 
names,  for  they  had  slipped  his  memory.  This  excited  my  as- 
tonishment. I  asked  him  if  he  had  never  seen  them  before. 
He  said  no,  and  he  w^as  sure  they  did  not  belong  to  Philadel- 
phia, or  he  certainly  should  have  had  some  knowledge  of 
them.  Mr.  Gerry  informed  us  they  were  from  New  York, 
and  of  Mrs.  Gerry's  particular  acquaintance.  What  advan- 
tages are  derived  from  a  finished  education  and  the  best  of 
company  !  How  does  it  banish  that  awkward  stiffness,  so 
common  when  strangers  meet  in  compan}^ !  How  does  it 
engage  the  most  perfect  strangers  in  all  the  freedom  of  an 
easy  and  pleasing  sociability,  common  only  to  the  most  inti- 
mate friends  ! 

Dr.  Franklin  lives  in  Market  Street,  between  Second  and 
Third  Streets,  but  his  house  stands  up  a  court-yard  at  some 
distance  from  the  street.  We  found  him  in  his  Garden,  sitting 
upon  a  grass  plat  under  a  very  large  Mulberry,  with  several 
other  gentlemen  and  two  or  three  ladies.  There  Avas  no  cu- 
riosity in  Philadelphia  which  I  felt  so  anxious  to  see  as  this 
great  man,  who  has  been  the  wonder  of  Europe  as  well  as  the 
glory  of  America.  But  a  man  who  stood  first  in  the  literary 
world,  and  had  spent  so  many  years  in  the  Courts  of  Kings, 
particularly  in  the  refined  Court  of  France,  I  conceived  would 
not  be  of  very  easy  access,  and  must  cieffamly  have  much  of 
the  air  of  grandeur  and  majesty  about  him.  Common  folks 
must  expect  only  to  gaze  at  him  at  a  distance,  and  answer 
such  questions  as  he  might  please  to  ask.  In  short,  when  I 
entered  his  house,  I  felt  as  if  I  was  going  to  be  introduced  to 
the  presence  of  an  European  Monarch.  But  how  were  my 
ideas  changed,  when  I  saw  a  short,  fat,  trunched  old  man.  in  a 
plain  Quaker  dress,  bald  pate,  and  short  white  locks,  sitting 


268  Jjife  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

"without  his  hat  under  the  tree,  and,  as  Mr.  Gerry  introduced 
me,  rose  from  his  chair,  took  me  by  the  hand,  expressed  his 
joy  to  see  me,  Avelcomed  me  to  the  city,  and  begged  me  to  seat 
myself  close  to  him.  His  voice  was  low,  but  his  countenance 
open,  frank,  and  pleasing.  He  instantly  reminded  me  of  old 
Captain  Cummings,  for  he  is  nearly  of  his  pitch,  and  no  more 
of  the  air  of  superiority  about  him.  I  delivered  him  my  let- 
ters. After  he  had  read  them,  he  took  me  again  by  the  hand, 
and,  Avith  the  usual  compliments,  introduced  me  to  the  other 
gentlemen  of  the  company,  who  were  most  of  them  members 
of  the  Convention.  Here  we  entered  into  a  free  conversation, 
and  spent  our  time  most  agreeably  until  it  was  dark.  The 
tea-table  was  spread  under  the  tree,  and  Mrs.  Bache,  a  very 
gross  and  rather  homely  lady,  who  is  the  only  daughter  of  the 
Doctor  and  lives  with  him,  served  it  out  to  the  company.  She 
had  three  of  her  children  about  her,  over  whom  she  seemed 
to  have  no  kind  of  command,  but  who  appeared  to  be 
excessively  fond  of  their  Grandpapa.  The  Doctor  showed 
me  a  curiosity  he  had  just  received,  and  with  which  he 
was  much  pleased.  It  was  a  snake  with  two  heads,  pre- 
served in  a  large  vial.  It  was  taken  near  the  confluence 
of  the  Schuylkill  with  the  Delaware,  about  four  miles  from 
this  city.  It  was  about  ten  inches  long,  well  proportioned, 
the  heads  perfect,  and  united  to  the  body  about  one-fourth  of 
an  inch  below  the  extremities  of  the  jaws.  The  snake  was  of 
a  dark  brown,  approaching  to  black,  and  the  back  beautifully 
speckled  (if  beauty  can  be  applied  to  a  snake)  with  white ;  the 
belly  was  rather  checkered  with  a  reddish  color  and  white. 
The  Doct'br  supposed  it  to  be  full  grown,  Avhich  I  think 
appears  probable,  and  thinks  it  must  be  a  sid  generis  of 
that  class  of  animals.  He  grounds  his  opinion  of  its  not  be- 
ing an  extraordinary  production,  but  a  distinct  genus,  on  the 
perfect  form  of  the  snake,  the  probability  of  its  being  of  some 
age,  and  there  having  been  found  a  snake  entirely  similar  (of 
which  the  Doctor  has  a  drawing,  which  he  showed  us)  near 
Lake  Champlain,  in  the  time  of  the  late  war.  The  Doctor 
mentioned  the  situation  of  this  snake,  if  it  was  traveling 
among  bushes,  and  one  head  should  choose  to  go  on  one  side 
of  the  stem  of  a  bush  and   the  other  head  should  prefer  the 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  269 

other  side,  and  that  neither  of  the  heads  "woukl  consent  to 
come  back  or  give  Avay  to  the  other.  He  was  then  going  to 
mention  a  humorous  matter  that  had  that  day  taken  place  in 
Convention,  in  consequence  of  his  comparing  the  snake  to 
America,  for  he  seemed  to  forget  that  every  thing  in  Conven- 
tion was  to  be  kept  a  profound  secret ;  but  the  secrecy  of 
Convention  matters  was  suggested  to  him,  which  stopped  him, 
and  deprived  me  of  the  story  he  was  going  to  tell.  After  it 
was  dark,  we  went  into  the  house,  and  the  Doctor  invited  me 
into  his  library,  which  is  likewise  his  study.  It  is  a  very  large 
chamber,  and  high  studded.  The  Avails  were  covered  with 
book-shelves  filled  with  books ;  besides,  there  are  four  large 
alcoves,  extending  two-thirds  of  the  length  of  the  Chamber, 
filled  in  the  same  manner.  I  presume  this  is  the  largest,  and 
by  far  the  best,  private  library  in  America.  He  showed  us  a 
glass  machine  for  exhibiting  the  circulation  of  the  blood  in 
the  arteries  and  veins  of  the  human  body.  The  circulation  is 
exhibited  by  the  passing  of  a  red  fluid  from  a  reservoir  into 
numerous  capillary  tubes  of  glass,  ramified  in  every  direction, 
and  then  returning  in  similar  tubes  to  the  reservoir,  which  was 
done  with  great  velocity,  without  any  power  to  act  visibly 
on  the  fluid,  and  had  the  appearance  of  perpetual  motion. 
Another  great  curiosity  was  a  rolling  press,  for  taking  the 
copies  of  letters  or  any  other  writing.  A  sheet  of  paper  is 
completely  copied  in  less  than  two  minutes,  the  copy  as  fair 
as  the  original,  and  without  eff"acing  it  in  the  smallest  degree. 
It  is  an  invention  of  his  own,  and  extremely  useful  in  many 
situations  in  life.  He  also  showed  us  his  long  artificial  arm 
and  hand,  for  taking  down  and  putting  books  up  on  high 
shelves  which  are  out  of  reach ;  and  his  great  armed  chair, 
with  rockers,  and  a  large  fan  placed  over  it,  with  which  he 
fans  himself,  keeps  off  flies,  etc.,  while  he  sits  reading,  with 
only  a  small  motion  of  his  foot ;  and  many  other  curiosities 
and  inventions,  all  his  own,  but  of  lesser  note.  Over  his 
mantel-tree,  he  has  a  prodigious  number  of  medals,  busts,  and 
casts  in  wax  or  plaster  of  Paris,  which  are  the  effigies  of  the 
most  noted  characters  in  Europe.  But  what  the  Doctor 
wished  principally  to  show  to  me  was  a  huge  volume  on 
Botany,  and  which,  indeed,  afforded  me  the  greatest  pleasure 


270  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler. 

of  any  one  thing  in  his  library.  It  was  a  single  volume,  but 
so  large  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  the  Doctor  was 
able  to  raise  it  from  a  low  shelf  and  lift  it  on  to  the  table ;  but 
with  that  senile  ambition  common  to  old  people,  he  insisted  on 
doing  it  himself,  and  would  permit  no  person  to  assist  him, 
merely  to  show  us  how  much  strength  he  had  remaining.  It 
contained  the  whole  of  Linn£eus  Systima  Vegetabilia,  with  large 
cuts  of  every  plant,  and  colored  from  nature.  It  was  a  feast 
to  me,  and  the  Doctor  seemed  to  enjoy  it  as  well  as  myself. 
We  spent  a  couple  of  hours  in  examining  this  volume,  while 
the  other  gentlemen  amused  themselves  with  other  matters. 
The  Doctor  is  not  a  Botanist,  but  lamented  that  he  did  not  in 
early  life  attend  to  this  science.  He  delights  in  natural  his- 
tory, and  expressed  an  earnest  wish  that  I  would  pursue  the 
plan  I  had  begun,  and  hoped  this  science,  so  much  neglected 
in  America,  would  be  pursued  with  as  much  ardor  here  as  it  is 
now  in  every  part  of  Europe.  I  wanted  for  three  months  at 
least  to  have  devoted  myself  entirely  to  this  one  volume. 
But  fearing  I  should  be  tedious  to  the  Doctor,  I  shut  up  the 
volume,  though  he  urged  me  to  examine  it  longer.  The  Doc- 
tor seemed  extremely  fond,  through  the  course  of  the  visit,  of 
dwelling  on  Philosophical  subjects,  and  particularly  that  of 
natural  History,  while  the  other  Gentlemen  were  swallowed  up 
with  politics.  This  was  a  favorable  circumstance  to  me,  for 
almost  the  whole  of  his  conversation  was  addressed  to  me ; 
and  I  was  highly  delighted  with  the  extensive  knowledge  he 
appeared  to  have  of  every  subject,  the  brightness  of  his  mem- 
ory, and  clearness  and  vivacity  of  all  his  mental  faculties. 
Notwithstanding  his  age  (eighty-four),  his  manners  arc  per- 
fectly easy,  and  every  thing  about  him  seems  to  diffuse  an 
unrestrained  freedom  and  liappiness.  He  has  an  incessant 
vein  of  humor,  accompanied  with  an  uncommon  vivacity, 
which  seems  as  natural  and  involuntary  as  his  breathing.  He 
urged  me  to  call  on  him  again,  but  my  short  tarry  would 
not  admit.  We  took  our  leave  at  ten,  and  I.  retired  to  my 
lodgings. 

The  gentlemen  Avho  lodged  in  the  house  were  just  sitting 
down  to  supper ;  a  sumptuous  table  was  spread,  and  the  at- 
tendance in  the  style  of  noblemen.     After  supper,  Mr.  Strong 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 


271 


came  in  and  invited  me  into  their  Hall,  ^vllere  Ave  sat  till 
twelve.  Mentioning  my  engagement  the  next  morning,  Gov- 
ernor Martin,  Mr.  Mason,  Mr.  Strong,  and  several  of  the  other 
gentlemen  wished  to  be  of  our  party,  but  would  have  preferred 
an  earlier  hour  than  six,  on  account  of  returning  in  season  to  at- 
tend the  Convention.  They  wished  to  know  if  5  o'clock  would 
not  be  agreeable  to  us.  As  the  matter  lay  with  Dr.  Clarkson, 
I  sent  a  servant  to  know  if  it  would  be  agreeable  to  go  out  of 
the  city  at  five  in  the  morning.  He  returned  me  an  answer 
that  he  should  on  his  own  part  prefer  five  to  six,  and  would  be 
happy  to  be  favored  with  the  company  of  the  other  gentlemen. 
We  then  agreed  that  the  first  who  awaked  in  the  morning  should 
call  the  servants,  the  gentlemen  having  already  ordered  them" 
to  have  two  coaches  harnessed  by  5  o'clock,  but  were  doubtful 
whether  they  would  awake  in  season. 

July  14.  As  my  chamber  fronted  to  the  east,  and  having 
my  mind  much  engaged,  I  awoke  just  as  the  first  dawning  ap- 
peared, and  rung  for  a  servant.  When  I  had  given  him  his 
orders,  I  took  a  walk  to  the  Market,  Avhile  the  carriages  were 
getting  ready.  It  was  then  so  dark  that  I  could  not  distinctly 
see  a  man  but  a  few  rods  ;  but,  to  my  astonishment,  found 
more  than  100  people  in  the  market,  and  crowds  coming  from 
every  street.  The  market  is  considered  by  many  as  the  greatest 
curiosity  in  the  city.  It  is  a  building  of  near  half  a  mile  in 
length,  of  one  story  high,  supported  by  brick  pillars  at  a  small 
distance,  the  distance  between  them  being  open  ;  but  a  vacancy 
is  left  for  the  cross  streets,  of  equal  Avidth  w^ith  the  streets.  The 
floor  is  raised  about  two  feet  above  the  level  of  the  street.  It 
is  perfectly  straight,  in  the  center  of  Market  Street,  which  is 
100  feet  wide,  and  is  nearly  in  the  center  of  the  city.  The 
part  of  the  market  near  the  river  is  devoted  to  fish  of  various 
kinds,  the  other  parts  to  meat.  The  butter  markets  are  next 
the  houses,  in  several  clusters.  Along  the  sides  of  the  houses 
in  this,  and  for  some  distance  in  the  cross  streets,  are  arranged 
the  vegetables  and  fruits.  Every  thing  is  adjusted  in  perfect 
order,  and  as  neat  and  clean  as  a  dining-hall.  By  the  time  it 
was  fair  daylight,  the  marketers  seemed  to  be  all  in  and  every 
thing  arranged.  The  crowds  of  purchasers  filled  every  ave- 
nue so  that  it  Avas  almost  impossible  to  pass.     The  stalls  Avere 


^lol^'-''* 


I 


272  Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler. 

furnished  with  excellent  meat,  and  there  was  every  kind  of 
vegetable  and  fruit  which  the  season  aiforded.  The  crowds  of 
people  seemed  like  the  collection  at  the  last  day,  for  there  was 
of  every  rank  and  condition  in  life,  from  the  highest  to  the 
lowest,  male  and  female,  of  every  age  and  every  color.  Sev- 
eral of  the  market  women  who  sold  fruit,  I  observed,  had  their 
infants  in  their  arms  and  their  children  about  them,  and  there 
seemed  to  be  some  of  every  nation  under  Heaven.  The  la- 
dies, indeed,  are  the  principal  purchasers,  but  are  in  a  dress 
not  easily  to  be  known  by  their  most  intimate  acquaintance, 
and  are  ahvays  attended  by  a  servant  with  his  basket.  What 
would  the  delicate  Boston  ladies  think,  if  they  were  to  be 
abroad  at  this  hour?  There  is,  I  presume,  as  much  real  del- 
icacy in  Philadelphia  as  Boston.  All,  by  this  time,  was  bustle 
and  hurry.  A  buzzing  murmur  of  voices  resounded  through 
the  crowds,  but  no  clamorous  noise  nor  crying  of  Avares  of  any 
kind.  This  scene  was  so  novel  that  I  could  not  deny  myself 
the  pleasure  of  attending  to  it  for  a  little  time.  I  made  my- 
self very  busy  in  traversing  from  one  end  of  the  market  to 
the  other,  viewing  every  thing  that  was  going  on,  and  gazing 
at  the  numerous  strange  faces  which  appeared  wherever  I 
turned  my  eyes.  At  length  I  found  myself  obliged  to  give  up 
this  pleasure  for  the  enjoyment  of  another. 

When  I  returned,  I  found  the  gentlemen  in  their  carriages  and 
wondering  what  had  become  of  me.  I  went  on  to  Dr.  Clarkson's, 
and  desired  them  to  follow.  His  carriage  had  just  come  out  of 
the  yard.  We  stepped  in,  and  his  son  accompanied  us  on  horse- 
back. We  crossed  the  Schuylkill,  at  what  is  called  the  lower 
ferry,  over  the  floating  bridge,  to  Gray's  tavern,  and,  in  about 
two  miles,  came  to  Mr.  Bartram's  seat.  We  alighted  from  our 
carriages,  and  found  our  company  were  :  Mr.  Strong,  Gov- 
ernor Martin,  Mr.  Mason  and  son,  Mr.  Williamson,  Mr.  Mad- 
ison, Mr.  Rutledge,  and  Mr.  Hamilton,  all  members  of  Con- 
vention, Mr.  Vaughan,  and  Dr.  Clarkson  and  son.  Mr.  Bar- 
tram  lives  in  an  ancient  Fabric,  built  wnth  stone,  and  very 
large,  which  was  the  seat  of  his  father.  His  house  is  on  an 
eminence  fronting  to  the  Schuylkill,  and  his  garden  is  on  the 
declivity  of  the   hill  betAveen  his  house  and   the  river.     We 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  273 

found  him,  Avith  another  man,  hoeing  in  his  garden,  in  a  short 
jacket  and  trowsers,  and  without  shoes  or  stockings.  He  at 
first  stared  at  us,  and  seemed  to  be  somewhat  embarrassed  at 
seeing  so  large  and  gay  a  company  so  early  in  the  morning. 
Dr.  Clarkson  was  the  only  person  he  knew,  who  introduced 
me  to  him,  and  informed  him  that  I  wished  to  converse  with 
him  on  botanical  subjects,  and,  as  I  lived  in  one  of  the  North- 
ern States,  would  probably  inform  him  of  trees  and  plants 
which  he  had  not  yet  in  his  collection ;  that  the  other  gentle- 
men Avished  for  the  pleasure  of  a  walk  in  his  garden.  I  in- 
stantly entered  on  the  subject  of  botany  Avith  as  much  famil- 
iarity as  possible,  and  inquired  after  some  rare  plants  AAdiich  I 
had  heard  that  he  had.  He  presently  got  rid  of  his  embar- 
rassment, and  soon  became  very  sociable,  Avhich  Avas  more  than 
I  expected,  from  the  character  I  had  heard  of  the  man.  I 
found  him  to  be  a  practical  botanist,  though  he  seemed  to  un- 
derstand little  of  the  theory.  We  ranged  the  several  alleys,  and 
he  gave  me  the  generic  and  specific  names,  place  of  groAvth, 
properties,  etc.,  so  far  as  he  knew  them.  This  is  a  very  an- 
cient garden,  and  the  collection  is  large  indeed,  but  is  made 
principally  from  the  Middle  and  Southern  States.  It  is  finely 
situated,  as  it  partakes  of  every  kind  of  soil,  has  a  fine  stream 
of  Avater,  and  an  artificial  pond,  where  he  has  a  good  collec- 
tion of  aquatic  plants.  There  is  no  situation  in  which  plants 
or  trees  are  found  but  that  they  may  be  propagated  here  in 
one  that  is  similar.  But  every  thing  is  very  badly  arranged, 
for  they  are  neither  placed  ornamentally  nor  botanically,  but 
seem  to  be  jumbled  together  in  heaps.  The  other  gentlemen 
were  very  free  and  sociable  Avitli  him,  particularly  Governor 
Martin,  Avho  has  a  smattering  of  botany  and  a  fine  taste  for 
natural  history.  There  are  in  this  garden  some  very  large 
trees  that  are  exotic,  particularly  an  English  oak,  Avhich  he 
assured  me  was  the  only  one  in  America.  He  had  the  Pawpaw 
tree,  or  Custard  apple.  It  is  small,  though  it  bears  fruit ;  but 
the  fruit  is  very  small.  He  has  also  a  large  number  of  aro- 
matics,  some  of  them  trees,  and  some  plants.  One  plant  I 
thought  equal  to  cinnamon.  The  Franklin  tree  is  very  curi- 
ous. It  has  been  found  only  on  one  particular  spot  in  Geor- 
18 


274  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

gia.  His  cider-press  is  singular ;  the  channel  for  the  stone 
wheel  to  run  in  for  grinding  the  apples  is  cut  out  of  a  solid 
rock ;  the  bottom  of  the  press  is  a  solid  rock,  and  has  a  square 
channel  to  carry  off  the  juice,  from  -whicli  it  is  received  into 
a  stone  reservoir  or  vat.  From  the  house  is  a  Avalk  to  the 
river,  between  two  rows  of  large,  lofty  trees,  all  of  different 
kinds,  at  the  bottom  of  Avhich  is  a  summer-house  on  the  bank, 
which  here  is  a  ledge  of  rocks,  and  so  situated  as  to  be  con- 
venient for  fishing  in  the  river,  Avhere  a  plenty  of  several  kinds 
of  fish  may  be  caught,  Mr.  Bartram  showed  us  several  nat- 
ural curiosities  in  the  place  where  he  keeps  his  seeds ;  they 
were  principally  fossils.  He  appeared  fond  of  exchanging 
a  number  of  his  trees  and  plants  for  those  which  are  peculiar 
to  the  Northern  States.  We  proposed  a  correspondence,  by 
which  we  could  more  minutely  describe  the  productions  pe- 
culiar to  the  Southern  and  Northern  States. 

About  nine,  we  took  our  leave  of  Mr.  Bartram,  who  appeared 
to  be  well  pleased  with  his  visitors,  and  returned  to  Graj^'s 
tavern,  where  we  breakfasted.  This  tavern  is  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Schuylkill,  at  the  foot  of  the  floating  bridge.  The 
land  near  the  river  is  broken  and  rocky,  though  the  rocks  are 
mostly  large,  and  the  soil  excellent.  These  rocks  seem  to  be 
a  species  of  freestone,  that  may  be  easily  wrought  into  any 
form.  There  we  were  entertained  with  scenes  romantic  and 
delightful  beyond  the  power  of  description.  I  know  not  how 
nor  where  to  begin  or  end,  nor  can  I  give  the  faintest  idea  of 
this  prodigy  of  art  and  nature.  I  will,  however,  attempt 
some  account  of  it,  to  assist  my  own  recollection.  Noth- 
ing appears  from  the  house,  or  in  passing  the  street,  that 
would  attract  the  attention  of  the  most  inquisitive  traveler, 
unless  it  be  a  flight  of  steps  cut  out  of  the  solid  rock  at  the 
east  end  of  the  house,  by  which  you  ascend  to  a  beautiful 
grass  plat,  shaded  with  a  number  of  large  trees,  in  the  rear  of 
the  house.  This  house  in  front  is  three  stories,  in  the  rear  but 
two,  for  the  back  part  of  the  lower  story  is  underground.  The 
house  is  a  lai-ge  pile  of  buildings,  mostly  old,  but  with  some 
new  additions.  From  this  grass  plat  we  went  into  a  piazza 
one  story  high,  next  the  street,  very  pleasant,  as  it  is  in  full 
view  of  the  river.     Here  we    breakfasted.     After   breakfast. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  275 

Mr.  Vaughan  invited  us  to  take  a  vieAV  of  the  Gardens.  "We 
returned  to  the  grass  plat,  from  which  we  ascended  several 
glaces  by  a  serpentine  gravel  walk,  and  came  to  the  Green- 
house. It  is  a  very  large  stone  building,  three  stories  in  the 
front  and  tAvo  in  the  rear.  The  one-half  of  the  house  is  divided 
lengthwise,  and  the  front  part  is  appropriated  to  a  green-house, 
and  has  no  chamber  floors.  It  is  finished  in  the  completest  man- 
ner for  the  purpose  of  arranging  trees  and  plants  in  the  most 
beautiful  order.  The  windows  are  enormous.  I  believe  some 
of  them  to  be  twenty  feet  in  length,  and  proportionably  Avide. 
There  is  a  fine  gallery  next  the  other  part  of  the  house,  where 
company  may  view  the  vegetables  to  the  best  advantage.  At 
this  time,  the  trees  and  plants  were  removed  into  the  open  air, 
and  the  room  whitewashed  and  as  neat  as  a  parlor.  The  other 
part  of  the  house,  which  communicates  with  the  gallery,  is 
divided  into  Halls  and  small  apartments,  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  several  large  companies  (who  would  not  Avish  to  have 
intercourse)  at  the  same  time.  All  these  apartments  are 
handsomely  furnished.  On  the  top  of  the  house  is  a  spacious 
walk,  where  we  had  a  delightful  vicAV  of  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia. We  then  took  a  view  of  the  contents  of  the  green- 
house, beautifully  arranged  in  the  open  air  on  the  south  of  the 
garden.  Here  w^ere  most  of  the  trees  and  fruits  that  grow  in 
the  hottest  climates.  Oranges,  lemons,  etc.,  in  every  stage 
from  blossoms  to  ripe  fruit ;  pine-apples  in  bloom,  and  those 
that  were  fully  ripe.  The  flowers  were  numerous  and  ex- 
tremely fragrant.  We  then  rambled  over  the  Gardens,  Avhich 
are  large — seemed  to  be  in  a  number  of  detached  areas,  all 
different  in  size  and  form.  The  alleys  were  none  of  them 
straight,  nor  were  there  any  two  alike.  At  every  end,  side, 
and  corner,  there  were  summer-houses,  arbors  covered  with 
vines  or  flowers,  or  shady  bowers  encircled  with  trees  and 
flowering  shrubs,  each  of  Avhich  Avas  formed  in  a  different 
taste.  In  the  borders  Avere  arranged  every  kind  of  floAver, 
one  Avould  think,  that  nature  had  ever  produced,  and  with  the 
utmost  display  of  fancy,  as  Avell  as  variety.  As  we  Avere 
Avalking  on  the  northern  side  of  the  Garden,  upon  a  beautiful 
glacis,  Ave  found  ourselves  on  the  borders  of  a  grove  of  Avood 
and  upon  the  broAv  of  a  steep  hill.     BeloAv  us  Avas   a   deep, 


276  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

shady  valley,  in  the  midst  of  .which  was  a  purling  stream  of  water, 
meandering  among  the  rocks  in  its  way  down  to  the  river.  At 
a  distance,  we  could  just  see  three  very  high  arched  hridges, 
one  beyond  the  other.  They  were  built  in  the  Chinese  style ; 
the  rails  on  the  sides  open  Avork  of  various  figures,  and  beau- 
tifully painted.  We  saw  them  through  the  grove,  the  branches 
of  the  trees  partly  concealing  them,  which  produced  the  more 
romantic  and  delightful  effect.  As  we  advanced  on  the  brow 
of  this  hill,  we  observed  a  small  foot-path,  which  led  by  several 
windings  into  the  grove.  We  followed  it ;  and  though  we  saw 
that  it  Avas  the  work  of  art,  yet  it  was  a  most  happy  imitation 
of  nature.  It  conducted  us  along  the  declivity  of  the  hill, 
which  on  every  side  w^as  strcAved  with  flowers  in  the  most  art- 
less manner,  and  evidently  seemed  to  be  the  bounty  of  nature 
without  the  aid  of  human  care.  At  length  we  seemed  to  be 
lost  in  the  Avoods,  but  saAV  in  the  distance  an  antique  building, 
to  which  our  path  led  us.  It  is  built  of  large  stones,  very  low 
and  singular  in  its  form,  standing  directly  over  the  brook  in 
the  valley.  It  instantly  struck  me  with  the  idea  of  a  hermit- 
age, and  I  found  that  so  it  Avas  called.  Every  thing  was  neat 
and  clean  about  it,  but  Ave  saAV  no  inhabitant.  We  ventured, 
however,  to  open  the  door,  Avhich  Avas  large  and  heavy  and 
seemed  to  grate  upon  its  rusty  hinges,  and  echoed  a  hoarse 
groan  through  the  grove.  We  found  several  apartments,  and 
at  one  end  a  fine  place  for  bathing,  Avhich  seems  to  be  the  de- 
sign of  the  building.  At  this  hermitage  we  came  into  a  spa- 
cious graveled  walk,  Avhich  directed  its  course  further  along  the 
grove,  which  Avas  tall  wood  interspersed  Avith  close  thickets  of 
different  groAvth.  As  Ave  advanced,  Ave  found  our  gravel  Avalk 
dividing  itself  into  numerous  branches,  leading  into  different 
parts  of  the  grove.  We  directed  our  course  nearly  north, 
though  some  of  our  company  turned  into  the  other  Avalks,  but 
were  soon  out  of  sight,  and  thought  proper  to  return  and  fol- 
low us.  We  at  length  came  to  a  considerable  eminence,  Avhich 
was  adorned  with  an  infinite  variety  of  beds  of  flowers  and 
artificial  groves  of  floAvering  shrubs.  On  the  further  side  of 
the  eminence  Avas  a  fence,  beyond  Avliich  Ave  perceived  an  ex- 
tensive but  narrow  opening.  When  Ave  came  to  the  fence,  we 
were  delightfully  astonished  Avith  the  vicAV  of  one  of  the  finest 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  277 

cascades  in  America,  which  presented  itself  directly  before  us 
at  the  further  end  of  the  opening.  A  broad  sheet  of  water 
comes  over  a  large  horizontal  rock,  and  falls  about  seventy 
feet  perpendicular.  It  is  in  a  large  river,,  which  empties  into 
the  Schuylkill  just  above  us.  The  distance  we  judged  to  be 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  which  being  seen  through  the  nar- 
row opening  in  the  tall  grove,  and  the  fine  mist  that  rose 
incessantly  from  the  rocks  below,  had  a  most  delightful  ef- 
fect. Here  we  gazed  with  admiration  and  pleasure  for  some 
time,  and  then  took  a  different  route  in  our  return  through 
the  grove,  and  followed  a  walk  that  led  down  toward  the 
Schuylkill.  Here  the  scene  Avas  varied.  Toward  the  river 
the  lands  were  more  broken.  The  walks  were  conducted  in 
every  direction,  over  little  eminences,  or  along  their  sides,  or 
through  a  deep  bottom  or  along  a  valley,  with  numerous  other 
walks  comina;  in  or  goino-  out  from  the  one  that  we  followed. 
Indeed,  the  walks  were  nearly  alike,  only  leading  in  different 
directions.  This  piece  of  ground  in  some  parts  is  extremely 
rude,  but  those  parts  are  improved  to  the  best  advantage ;  for 
here  we  found  Grottoes  wrought  out  of  the  sides  of  ledges  of 
rocks,  the  entrance  almost  obscured  by  the  shrubs  and  thickets 
that  were  placed  before  them,  and  the  passage  into  them  by  a 
kind  of  labyrinth.  There  were  several  other  hermitages,  con- 
structed in  different  forms ;  but  the  Grottoes  and  Hermitages 
were  not  yet  completed,  and  some  space  of  time  will  be  neces- 
sary to  give  them  that  highly  romantic  air  which  they  are 
capable  of  attaining.  We  crossed  the  deep  valley  with  the 
purling  stream  at  the  lower  end,  next  the  river,  where  we  had 
a  fine  view  of  the  lofty  Chinese  bridges  above  us.  Here  is  a 
curious  labyrinth  with  numerous  windings  begun,  and  extends 
along  the  declivity  of  the  hill  toward  the  gardens,  but  has 
hardly  yet  received  its  form.  At  the  bottom  of  the  vale,  and 
on  the  bank  of  the  river,  is  a  huge  rock,  which  I  judged  to  be 
at  least  fifteen  feet  high,  and  surrounded  with  tall  spruces  and 
cedars.  On  the  top  of  it  I  observed  a  spacious  summer-house, 
as  I  supposed,  for  I  could  see  it  only  through  the  boughs  of 
the  trees.  The  roof  was  in  the  Chinese  form.  It  was  sur- 
rounded with  rails  of  open  work,  and  a  beautiful  winding 
staircase  led  up  to  it. 


278  Life  of  Rev.  ManasseJi  Cutler. 

From  this  valley  we  ascended  a  steep  precipice  on  to  the 
grass  plat  in  the  rear  of  the  house  from  which  we  set  out. 
During  the  whole  of  this  romantic,  rural  scene,  I  fancied  my- 
self on  enchanted  ground,  and  could  hardly  help  looking 
out  for  flying  dragons,  magic  castles,  little  Fairies,  Knight- 
errants,  distressed  Ladies,  and  all  the  apparatus  of  eastern 
fable.  I  found  my  mind  really  fatigued  AYJth  so  long  a  scene 
of  pleasure.  This  tract  of  ground,  in  some  parts,  consists  of 
gentle  risings  and  depressions  ;  in  others,  hills  and  vales  ;  and 
in  others,  rocky,  rude,  and  broken.  There  is  every  variety 
that  imagination  can  conceive,  but  the  Avhole  improved  and 
embellished  by  art,  and  yet  the  art  so  blended  with  nature  as 
hardly  to  be  distinguished,  and  seems  to  be  only  an  handmaid 
to  her  operations.  On  the  side  of  the  road  opposite  to  the 
house  is  a  high  hill,  which  ends  abruptly  next  the  river,  in  a 
large  extended  rock,  twenty  feet  high.  In  this  rock  a  flight 
of  steps  is  cut,  in  a  winding  or  kind  of  lunette  form,  from  the 
road  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  wide  enough  for  two  or  three  per- 
sons to  walk  abreast,  with  little  gutters  on  each  side  to  con- 
duct the  water  that  runs  down.  At  the  summit  of  the  hill 
you  enter  a  grove  of  walnuts,  oaks,  and  pines,  under  Avhich 
are  arranged  benches  for  one  hundred  people  to  sit,  several 
long  tables,  etc.  This  is  the  only  work  of  art  on  this  hill. 
But,  under  the  trees  and  on  the  sides  of  the  hill,  are  many 
blueberry,  whortleberry,  and  bilberry  bushes,  raspberries, 
blackberries,  and  some  other  kinds  of  wild  fruit.  It  affords  a 
fine  prospect  down  the  Schuylkill  and  its  opposite  shore. 

This  tavern  used  to  be  no  more  than  a  common  Inn,  but 
Mr.  Samuel  Vaughan,  Sr.,  when  he  came  from  England  a 
few  years  ago,  was  charmed  with  the  situation,  advised  the 
present  owner,  who  had  just  purchased  it,  and  was  an  ambi- 
tious young  fellow,  to  undertake  these  works,  assuring  him  he 
would  soon  reimburse  his  expenses  and  accumulate  a  large  es- 
tate from  the  company  he  would  draw  from  Philadelphia. 
Mr.  Vaughan  promised  to  plan  the  works  and  furnish  him 
with  a  gardener  from  England  who  would  answer  his  purpose. 
This  gardener  is  now  with  him,  and  he  constantly  employs 
about  ten  laborers  under  the  gardener's  direction.  The  com- 
pany from  Philadelphia,  we   are   told,  far  exceeded  the  Inn- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler.  279 

keeper's  expectations,  and  he  finds  himself  in  a  fair  way  to 
make  a  fortune.  Mr.  Vaughan  was  so  generous  as  to  insist 
on  paying  my  bill.  We  returned  to  Philadelphia  between 
ten  and  eleven.  When  we  came  to  the  Hospital,  Dr.  Clark- 
son  left  me,  and  went  into  the  city  on  his  son's  horse.  Young 
Mr.  Clarkson  conducted  me  into  the  Hospital.  Dr.  Rush  ar- 
rived in  a  few  minutes  after.  This  building  is  in  the  form,  as 
you  approach  it  from  the  city,  of  an  inverted  _|_.  It  is  sur- 
rounded with  a  high  wall,  and  has  back  of  it  a  very  large 
kitchen-garden.  The  door  in  the  center  opens  into  a  large 
hall.  On  each  end  are  apartments  for  the  nurses,  cooks,  etc. 
We  ascended  the  stairway  out  of  this  hall  into  another  hall  in 
the  second  story,  at  one  end  of  wdiich  is  a  large  room,  which 
contains  a  fine  medical  library,  where  the  Directors  were  sit- 
ting, and  a  smaller  room,  where  the  medicine  is  placed.  On 
the  opposite  end  are  the  apartments  for  the  attending  Physi- 
cians. The  third  story  is  formed  in  the  same  manner.  On 
one  side  of  this  hall  is  the  Museum,  Avhere  there  is  a  collection 
of  skeletons  and  anatomies.  Here  I  was  shown  the  skeleton 
of  the  woman  who  was  executed  in  London  some  years  ago 
for  beating  a  servant  girl  until  she  died,  an  account  of  which 
was  published  in  a  London  magazine,  with  a  plate  of  the  woman 
and  girl.  She  was  a  person  of  distinction,  and,  from  the  fine 
set  of  teeth  in  the  skeleton,  must  have  been  young.  In  this 
Museum  is  the  Ijest  collection  of  medical  paintings  in  Amer- 
ica. The  anatomical  paintings  are  executed  in  a  masterly 
manner,  but  they  are  far  exceeded  by  those  of  Midwifery,  which 
were  done  under  the  inspection  of  the  late  ingenious  Dr. 
Fothergill,  and  presented  by  him  to  this  Hospital.  There  are 
several  Casts,  done  in  Plaster  of  Paris,  and  as  large  as  the 
life,  which  exhibit  singular  cases  in  Midwifery.  The  Museum 
is  also  furnished  with  a  number  of  preparations  and  preserva- 
tions relating  to  Physics  and  Surgery. 

After  we  had  taken  a  view  of  the  Museum,  we  returned  to 
the  upper  Hall,  where  several  Physicians  and  all  the  young 
students  in  Physic  in  the  City  were  waiting.  Dr.  Rush  then 
began  his  examination  of  the  sick,  attended  by  these  gentle- 
men, which  I  judged  to  be  between  twenty  and  thirty.  We 
entered  the   upper  chamber  of  the  sick,  Avhich  is  the  leg  of 


280  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

the  T.  It  is  a  spacious  room,  finely  ventilated  with  numerous 
large  windows  on  both  sides.  There  were  two  tiers  of  beds, 
with  their  heads  toward  the  walls,  and  a  chair  and  small  table 
betAveen  them.  The  room  was  exceedingly  clean  and  nice, 
the  beds  and  bedding  appeared  to  be  of  a  good  quality,  and 
the  most  profound  silence  and  order  Avere  preserved  upon  the 
Doctor's  entering  the  room.  There  were  only  Avomen,  and 
about  forty  in  number.  Dr.  Rush  makes  his  visits  Avith  a 
great  deal  of  formality.  He  is  attended  by  the  attending 
Physician,  Avho  gives  him  an  account  of  every  thing  material 
since  he  saAV  them  last,  and  by  the  Apothecary  of  the  Hospital, 
who  minutes  his  Prescriptions.  In  every  case  worthy  of  notice, 
he  addresses  the  young  Physicians,  points  out  its  nature,  the 
probable  tendency,  and  the  reason  for  the  mode  of  treatment 
which  he  pursues.  On  this  occasion,  the  Doctor  was  particu- 
larly attentive  and  complaisant  to  me,  and  seemed  to  consider 
me  as  a  Physician. 

From  this  room  Ave  AYcnt  to  the  next  beloAv  it,  Avhich  is  in 
every  respect  similar.  It  is  appropriated  to  the  men.  He 
began,  as  before,  on  one  side,  and  went  around  the  room. 
Every  patient  is  on  his  own  bed  or  chair.  Most  of  the  cases 
were  chronic,  many  of  them  swellings  and  ulcerations,  and 
some  of  them  very  singular;  but  I  have  not  time  to  describe 
them.  Their  dressings  were  all  ready  to  be  taken  off  and  ex- 
posed to  vieAv  the  instant  the  Doctor  came  to  them.  These  he 
imputed  to  their  drinking  spirituous  liquors,  and  did  not  fail  to 
remind  them  of  it.  He  told  me  the  greater  proportion  of  his 
patients  in  the  city  Avere  similar  cases,  and  originated  from 
the  same  cause.  There  were  betAveen  forty  and  fifty  in  this 
room.  We  next  took  a  vieAv  of  the  Maniacs.  Their  cells  are 
in  the  loAver  story,  Avhich  is  partly  underground.  These  cells 
are  about  ten  feet  square,  made  as  strong  as  a  prison.  On 
the  back  part  is  a  long  entry,  from  Avhich  a  door  opens  into 
each  of  them  ;  in  each  door  is  a  hole,  large  enough  to  give 
them  food,  etc.,  Avhicli  is  closed  Avith  a  little  door  secured  Avith 
strong  bolts.  On  the  opposite  side  is  a  windoAv,  and  large  iron 
grates  Avithin  to  prevent  their  breaking  the  glass.  They  can 
be  darkened  at  pleasure.  Here  Avere  both  men  and  Avomen, 
between  twenty  and  thirty  in  number.     Some   of  them   have 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  281 

beds ;  most  of  them  clean  straAv.  Some  of  them  were  ex- 
tremely fierce  and  raving,  nearly  or  quite  naked ;  some  sing- 
ing and  dancing  ;  some  in  despair ;  some  were  dumb  and  would 
not  open  their  mouths ;  others  incessantly  talking.  It  was 
curious  indeed  to  see  in  what  different  strains  their  distraction 
raged.  This  would  have  been  a  melancholy  scene  indeed,  had 
it  not  been  that  there  was  every  possible  relief  afforded  them 
in  the  power  of  man.  Every  thing  about  them,  notwithstand- 
ing the  labor  and  trouble  it  must  have  required,  was  neat  and 
clean.  From  this  distressing  view  of  what  human  nature  is 
liable  to,  and  the  pleasing  evidence  of  what  humanity  and 
benevolence  can  do,  Ave  returned  to  the  room  Avhere  the  Di- 
rectors were.  The  scene  I  had  uoav  been  attending  upon  Avas 
totally  the  reverse  of  that  at  Gray's  ;  but  such  is  the  elegance 
of  these  buildings,  the  care  and  attention  to  the  sick,  the  spa- 
cious and  clean  apartments,  and  the  perfect  order  in  every 
thing,  that  it  seemed  more  like  a  palace  than  a  hospital,  and 
one  Avould  almost  be  tempted  to  be  sick,  if  they  could  be  so 
well  provided  for. 

We  then  took  a  vicAv  of  the  Bettering  house,  Avhich  is  a  large 
and  spacious  building,  Avith  good  rooms  and  Avell  furnished. 
The  Garden  is  large  and  laid  out  in  a  pretty  form  ;  abounds 
with  fruit  trees  and  kitchen  vegetables.  We  returned  to  the 
city  with  Dr.  Rush,  and  Dr.  Clarkson  and  son  and  myself 
dined  Avith  him. 

Soon  after  dinner,  the  bell  of  the  Church  near  Carpenter's 
Hall  rang,  which  informed  us  that  the  Library  of  the  Hall  Avas 
open,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  and  delivering  books.  We 
immediately  repaired  to  it,  as  it  was  a  favorable  opportunity 
for  vieAving  every  part.  It  is  a  very  large  building,  erected 
by  a  number  of  Avealthy  mechanics,  principally  Carpenters, 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  meetings,  depositing  mechanic 
models,  and  a  library  of  books.  It  is  noAV  groAvn  into  one  of 
the  most  important  depositories  in  America.  The  University 
literati  and  men  of  fortune  are  become  proprietors.  As  Ave 
entered  the  Hall,  Ave  Avent  into  a  spacious  middle  entry,  and 
turned  to  our  right  into  the  part  of  the  Hall  Avhere  the  models 
of  mechanical  instruments  and  various  kinds  of  machines  are 
deposited.     The  room  Avas  very  high  and  large,  and  contained 


282  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

models  of  almost  every  kind  of  farming  instruments,  such  as 
plows,  harrows,  hoes,  spades,  carts,  Avagons,  etc.,  constructed 
in  diflFerent  forms,  some  in  full  size,  others  in  miniature ; 
models  of  all  kinds  of  mills,  machines  for  cleaning  grain, 
dressing  flax,  hemp,  etc.;  models  in  the  several  orders  of 
Architecture,  and  various  other  mechanical  instruments,  more 
than  I  am  able  to  recollect.  It  is  easy  to  conceive  of  the  great 
utility  of  such  a  cabinet.  Every  ingenious  man  has  a  kind  of 
bounty  offered  for  the  exertion  of  his  inventive  faculties,  for 
here  he  may  deposit  his  invention,  which  he  may  be  assured 
will  be  received  with  particular  attention  and  respect  to  him  ; 
and  he  has  the  prospect,  if  he  is  unable  himself  to  carry  it 
into  experiment  and  use,  that  somebody  else  will  do  it,  while 
he  secures  to  himself  the  honor  of  the  invention,  and  satisfac- 
tion of  rendering  service,  if  it  succeeds,  to  his  fellow  creatures. 
We  passed  from  this  room  through  the  entry  into  the  one 
opposite,  Avhich  is  of  the  same  dimensions.  This  room  will  be 
famous  as  long  as  it  is -in  existence;  for  in  this  room  the 
Declaration  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of 
America  was  framed,  signed,  and  declared  by  Congress.  It  is 
now  improved  as  the  depository  of  the  Trophies  of  War  which 
established  and  crowned  that  bold  and  glorious  Declaration. 
These  Trophies  consist  of  pieces  of  Cannon,  small-arms,  side- 
arms  of  officers  and  men.  Colors,  standards,  tents,  military 
chests,  and  all  the  various  accouterments  of  officers  and  men  ; 
and  many  complete  uniforms  of  different  regiments,  from  field 
officers  down  to  privates,  collected  principally  from  the  two  cap- 
tured armies  of  Burgoyne  and  Cornwallis.  There  are  also  in  this 
collection  several  trophies  captured  by  partisans  of  the  Ameri- 
can Army,  in  bold  and  desperate  attempts,  displayed  in  honor  to 
those  Heroes  who  obtained  them.  We  then  ascended  a  staircase 
to  the  room  over  the  trophies  of  war,  which  is  the  library.  This 
is  a  large  and  excellent  collection,  and  is  now  become  the 
public  library  of  the  University  and  the  city.  Every  modern 
author  of  any  note,  I  am  told,  is  to  be  met  with  here,  and 
large  additions  are  annually  made.  The  books  appeared  to  be 
well  arranged  and  in  good  order.  But  the  number  of  books, 
and  the  arrangement,  are  not  so  large  nor  so  ornamental  as  the 
library  at  Cambridge,  but  approaches  nearer  to  it   than  any 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  283 

other  on  the  continent.  I  was  pleased  with  a  kind  of  net-work 
doors  to  the  book-shelves,  which  is  made  of  a  large  wire- suffi- 
ciently open  to  read  the  labels,  but  no  book  can  be  taken  out 
unless  the  librarian  unlocks  the  door.  This  is  a  necessary  se- 
curity from  any  persons  taking  books  without  the  knowledge 
of  the  librarian.  Here  were  a  large  number  of  gentlemen.  I 
was  introduced  to  a  number  of  the  members  of  the  Philosoph- 
ical Society. 

From  the  Library  we  were  conducted  into  the  Cabinet, 
which  is  a  large  room  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  entry,  and 
over  the  room  where  the  Mechanical  models  are  deposited. 
Here  we  had  the  pleasure  of  viewing  a  most  excellent  collec- 
tion of  natural  curiosities  from  all  parts  of  the  globe.  They 
are  well  arranged,  and  are  contained  principally  on  shelves 
which  are  inclosed,  having  glass  casements  in  front,  the  panes 
of  Avhich  are  very  large.  Here  is  a  tooth  of  the  large  animals 
found  in  the  Ohio  Country,  which  weighs  five  pounds,  and  a 
thigh  bone,  four  feet  and  some  inches  in  length,  and  very  thick 
in  proportion  to  its  length.  The  articulations  have  a  fine  pol- 
ish, and  the  body  of  the  bone  is  smooth.  It  is  of  a  dark  color, 
as  is  also  the  greater  part  of  the  tooth,  which  is  one  of  the 
grinders.  The  thigh  bone  was  on  a  high  shelf,  where  I  could 
not  well  make  the  attempt  to  lift  it ;  but,  by  the  weight  of  one 
end,  which  I  raised  from  the  shelf,  judged  that  it  would 
scarcely  be  in  my  power  to  take  it  up  from  the  ground.  There 
are  several  botanical  volumes  in  this  Museum,  lately  pub- 
lished. They  are  folios,  and  every  plant  is  represented  in 
large  copper-plate  cuts,  colored  from  nature,  very  large  and 
finely  executed.  The  author's  name  I  can  not  recollect. 
They  were  presents,  and  no  person  is  to  be  permitted  to  take 
them  out,  but  may  examine  them  here  as  much  as  they  please. 
For  this  reason  they  are  in  the  Museum,  and  not  in  the  Li- 
brary. 

After  we  had  taken  a  view  of  this  Hall,  I  took  my  leave  of 
Dr.  Clarkson  and  Dr.  Rush.  Youno;  Mr.  Clarkson  accom- 
panied  me  to  my  lodgings,  and,  in  our  way,  I  just  called  on  sev- 
eral gentlemen  to  whom  I  had  letters,  and  took  my  leave.  At 
the  Indian  Queen  I  found  Mr.  Gorham,  Governor  Martin,  Mr. 
Mason,  and  Dr.  Williamson,  of  the  Convention.     They  were  so 


284  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

complaisant  as  to  express  much  regret  at  my  leaving  the  city 
so  soon,  and  complained  that  I  had  spent  no  more  time  with 
them.  Mr.  Gorham  said  he  could  not  conceive  how  I  came  to 
be  in  so  great  demand  in  Philadelphia,  as  1  had  never  been 
there  before,  for  that  there  had  not  been  ten  minutes  in  the 
day  but  somebody  was  inquiring  for  me,  or  letters  or  packets 
were  left.  This,  however,  Avas  easily  accounted  for,  from  my 
having  a  very  large  number  of  introductory  letters,  many  of 
Avhich  I  had  left  wuth  a  card,  without  seeing  the  gentlemen  to 
Avhom  they  were  addressed,  and  they  were  so  complaisant  as 
to  call  at  my  lodgings.  I  found  that  the  gentleman  who  was 
my  companion  from  Princeton  to  this  city  had  frequently 
called,  but  I  was  not  so  happy  as  to  see  him,  Avhich  I  very 
much  regretted. 

At  half  after  six  I  left  the  city  on  my  return.  Through 
misinformation,  I  returned  the  same  road  to  Bristol  which 
I  traveled  when  I  went  to  Philadelphia,  but  afterward  found  I 
might  have  gone  through  Germantown,  Bethlehem,  and  Easton, 
which  Avould  have  been  a  more  direct  way  to  the  part  of 
the  Jerseys  to  which  I  was  bound,  and  would  have  been  a  very 
considerable  gratification.  My  bill  at  the  Indian  Queen, 
366-.  9^. 

Philadelphia  is  the  capital  city  in  America.  It  is  large, 
elegant,  and  populous,  situated  on  the  River  Delaware,  about 
150  miles  from  the  sea,  with  a  good  harbor,  in  which  there  is 
a  great  number  of  large  ships,  besides  numerous  smaller  ves- 
sels of  every  description.  It  contains  10,000  houses,  and 
covers  twice  the  quantity  of  ground  to  that  of  Boston.  The 
State  House.  Hospital,  and  most  of  the  other  public  build- 
ings, are  magnificent,  but  it  is  singular  that  there  are  only  two 
steeples  in  the  city,  where  there  are  upward  of  twenty  houses 
for  public  worship.  There  is  an  Academy  belonging  to  the 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  an  Infirmary  which  is 
said  to  be  of  more  utility  to  the  city  than  the  Hospital.  There 
is  no  public  building  for  this  institution,  as  it  is  of  very  recent 
establishment.  There  are  a  number  of  large  houses  contiguous 
to  each  other,  occupied  as  an  Infirmary,  where  the  sick,  nurses, 
etc,  are  well  accommodated.  Dr.  Clarkson  showed  me  the 
houses,  but  we  did  not  go  into  them.     He  assured  me  there 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  285 

were  more  than  400  patients.  It  is  supported  by  an  annual 
subscription,  and  attended  by  all  the  Physicians  in  the  city. 
No  person  subscribes  less  than  one  guinea,  and  is  allowed  to 
recommend  two  persons,  of  their  poor  neighbors,  who  are  pro- 
vided with  every  thing  necessary  for  a  sick  person,  together 
with  medicine,  attendance,  etc.  A  subscriber  of  two  guineas 
may  recommend  four,  and  a  great  subscription  is  not  limited 
to  any  particular  number.  Particular  attention  is  here  paid  to 
persons  who  have  been  reduced  from  affluent  circumstances 
by  misfortunes.  The  situation  of  the  sick  in  this  Infirmary  is 
said  to  be  equal  to  that  of  the  best  private  families  in  the 
city.  Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  private  benevolence  of  the 
Philadelphians,  there  is  certainly  a  greater  display  of  public 
charity  here  than  in  any  other  part  of  America.  The  streets 
in  this  city  are  at  right  angles,  the  buildings  on  a  straight 
line.  They  are  well  paved,  and,  at  a  distance  of  ten  feet  from 
the  house,  is  a  row  of  posts,  and  in  this  range  of  posts  are  all 
their  pumps.  It  is  well  furnished  with  lamps.  The  pave- 
ments between  the  posts  and  houses  are  laid  with  free-stone  or 
large  tile,  and  entirely  smooth,  Avhich  makes  the  walking  on 
them  delightful.  They  are  kept  perfectly  clean,  being  washed 
every  day,  and  here  all  the  foot  passengers  pass.  While  I 
was  walking  with  Mr.  Strong,  I  happened  to  step  without  the 
posts,  and  walked  a  few  steps  in  the  street.  He  desired  me 
to  come  within  the  posts,  for  he  said  they  would  certainly  call 
me  a  New  England  man^  if  I  walked  there.  The  middle  part 
of  the  streets  are  generally  very  dirty,  and  the  view  of  these 
extended  streets  interrupted  frequently  by  piles  of  various 
kinds  of  lumber.  The  streets  parallel  with  the  Delaware  are 
Water  Street,  next  the  river;  then  Fore  Street,  First  Street, 
Second  Street,  and  so  on  to  Ninth  Street,  which  is  the  fur- 
therest  yet  built  upon.  The  streets  that  intersect  these  are 
Market  Street,  which  is  near  the  center  of  the  city  ;  and  each 
Avay  from  it,  they  are  named  after  some  tree,  vine,  or  shrub. 
I  rode  to  Bristol  without  making  a  stage,  and  arrived  about 
ten.     Lodged  at  Bissennet's.     Stage  twenty  miles. 

Sunday,  Jidy  15.  Set  out  very  early  this  morning  for 
Trenton,  where  I  proposed  to  attend  public  worship.  Bill,  4s. 
lOcZ.     I  crossed  the  Delaware  at  the  upper  ferry,  not  far  above 


286  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianas8eh  Cutler. 

the  Forge,  Rolling,  and  Slitting  Mills.  At  these  mills  I  let 
my  horse  stand  to  cool  himself  about  ten  minutes,  and  took  a 
walk  into  the  mills,  and  viewed  these  curious  works,  but,  as  it 
was  Sunday,  did  not  take  an}^  minutes  of  their  construction. 
I  was  surprised  to  see  how  prodigiously  great  the  force  was, 
which  is  applied  to  the  rolling  and  slitting  mills  by  means  of 
vastly  large  and  double  water-wheels.  The  furnaces,  or, 
rather,  ovens,  for  heating  the  bars  of  iron  before  they  are 
rolled  or  cut,  were  very  large,  but  conveniently  constructed 
and  situated.  The  machinery  is  somewhat  complicated,  but 
appeared  plain  and  easy.  Every  thing  about  these  mills  was 
prodigiously^  massy,  but  they  are  worked  with  few  hands. 

Breakfasted  at  the  sign  of  the  Sun,  Francis  Wilt,  in  Tren- 
ton, thirteen  miles  from  Bristol,  by  way  of  the  upper  ferry. 
As  it  was  now  but  half  after  8,  found  I  could  with  ease  go  as 
far  as  Pennytown  before  public  worship  would  begin.  I  con- 
cluded to  go  on  my  journey.  Bill,  2s.  Qd.  Here  I  left  the 
New  York  road,  in  order  to  take  a  circuit  more  northerly  into 
the  Jerseys,  and  to  return  by  the  way  of  Morristown  to  New 
York.  I  much  regretted  that  I  could  not  call  again  on  Dr. 
Smith  and  Colonel  ]Morgan,  at  Princeton,  but  fovind  that  it 
would  be  more  than  ten  miles  out  of  my  way,  and  it  was  nec- 
essary I  should  be  in  New  York  as  soon  as  possible.  Arrived 
at  Pennytown  at  ten,  which  is  eight  miles  from  Trenton.  Put 
up  at  Thos.  Bullman's,  a  tolerable  tavern,  opposite  the  Meet- 
ing House.  Meeting,  I  was  told,  would  not  begin  until  eleven, 
the  intermission  would  be  but  half  an  hour,  aud  the  afternoon 
service  would,  be  out  a  little  after  two.  This  is  a  small  vil- 
lage, the  land  very  good,  and  houses  appeared  well  for  far- 
mers' houses.  Many  of  the  people  came  a  considerable  dis- 
tance to  meeting,  and  almost  all  those  ride  in  wagons  with  two 
horses.  The  country  is  level  and  the  roads  good ;  a  great  num- 
ber can  therefore  ride  in  a  wagon.  They  were  the  common 
wagons  Avhich  they  use  in  their  farming  business,  for  they  have 
no  carts  in  this  part  of  the  country.  They  fill  up  the  wagon 
nearly  Avith  chairs  two  abreast,  and  set  in  them  men,  women, 
and  children.  I  saw  no  other  carriage  at  the  Meeting  House, 
but  a  great  number  of  these,  and  many  of  the  people  who 
came  in  them  were  richly  dressed.     The  congregation  made  a 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  287 

very  good  appearance  for  a  country  place.  The  Parson  is  a 
young  man  whose  name  is  Hue,  and  he  gave  us  two  ruefnl  dis- 
courses on  the  process  of  the  last  judgment.  It  was  mere 
declamation,  with  great  affectation  of  oratory,  and  void  of  sen- 
timent or  arrangement.  He  appeared  to  be  a  high-flying,  ex- 
temporary preacher,  for  he  had  no  notes,  and  reminded  me  of 
Butler's  lines  in  Hudibras — 

"  Witli  pulpit  drum,  ecclesiastic. 
Beat  with  his  fist  instead  of  a  stick." 

His  colleague,  an  aged  man,  whose  name  was  Guild,  from 
Wrentham,  in  Massachusetts,  had  been  buried  the  last  Aveek, 
and  though  I  was  told  that  he  had  been  much  beloved,  and 
was  greatly  lamented,  yet  no  note  was  read  nor  a  word  said 
about  him,  either  in  prayer  or  sermon.  Meeting  was  done  in 
the  afternoon  a  little  past  two,  and,  as  the  weather  was  rather 
cool,  I  ordered  my  horse  up  and  went  on  to  the  Ringo  Tavern. 
Bill,  3s.  Qd.,  Jersey  money. 

The  road  was  fine,  but  the  country  rather  more  hilly,  though 
the  soil  is  good.  The  Ringo  is  kept  by  Robertson.  In  the 
Jerseys  the  counties  are  not  divided  into  towns,  nor  have  any 
of  their  towns  fixed  boundaries.  You  do  not  therefore  in- 
quire the  way  to  particular  towns,  but  to  Taverns,  which  are 
known  by  certain  names  which  they  have  by  some  means  ob- 
tained, for  they  are  rarely  known  by  the  name  of  the  man 
who  keeps  them.  Here  I  drank  tea,  17  miles  from  Penny- 
town.  Bill,  1.S-.  4(i.  Finding  that  I  had  time  to  go  further, 
and  that  the  evening  would  be  cool  and  pleasant,  concluded 
to  go  on  to  the  next  stage,  the  White  House  Tavern,  17  miles 
further,  where  I  arrived  about  9  o'clock.  The  country  I  trav- 
eled over  is  very  fine.  The  farmers  appear  to  live  at  ease, 
and  to  abound  in  the  necessaries  of  life.  In  my  way  I  crossed 
several  large  branches  of  the  Raritan,  over  which  I  was  obliged 
to  ford,  for  they  have  no  bridges.  The  people  at  the  White 
House  were  gone  to  bed,  but  I  soon  routed  them.  Feeling 
a  fine  appetite,  I  thought  it  not  best  to  go  to  bed  supperless.  ^ 
The  landlady  and  her  daughter,  and  a  black  servant,  got  , 
up,  and    soon  provided  me  a  fine  supper  of  veal-cutlet  and      ,  / 

fried  oysters.     I  have    rode    to-day  55    miles,  and    have  at-      '  1 

V 


288  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

tended  public  worship  both  aforenoon  and  afternoon — a  pretty 
good  day's  work  for  Sunday  ! 

Monday,  July  16.  I  rose  pretty  early  this  morning.  Bill, 
4s.  lie?.  This  tavern  is  kept  by  Stillwell,  who  perfectly  un- 
derstands the  art  of  making  out  a  tavern  bill.  I  gave  my 
horse  last  night  eight  quarts  of  oats,  for  which  he  must  have 
charged  me  pretty  w'ell,  for  I  had  nothing  but  supper  and 
lodging.  This  is  a  tolerable  house,  very  neat,  my  bed  and 
linen  excellent.  In  the  nisiht  was  a  fine  shower  of  rain,  at- 
tended  Avith  thunder  and  lightning  ;  the  first  rain  where  I  have 
been,  of  any  consequence,  since  I  left  Ipswich.  It  cleared 
away  this  morning,  and  the  traveling  cool  and  most  delightful. 
Made  my  first  stage  at  the  second  Cross-road  Tavern,  Malick's, 
7  miles.  Here  I  breakfasted.  Indifferent  house.  Bill,  Is.  Qd. 
From  this  tavern  I  went  on  to  Veal  Town,  7  miles.  This  is  a 
small  village.  The  houses  are  very  neat,  but  not  large.  Peo- 
ple mostly  farmers.  The  land  very  good,  but  the  people  take 
no  pains  to  manure  their  land.  Their  only  object  is  to  raise 
wheat,  and  keep  a  large  number  of  fat  horses.  They  are 
very  inattentive  to  neat-cattle  and  the  growing  of  hay,  al- 
though the  land  appears  well  suited  to  grass  of  various  kinds. 
They  begin,  however,  to  sow  some  quantity  of  herd's-grass 
seed,  which  they  call  Timothy. 

I  now  took  the  road  to  Morristown,  and  dined  at  Freeman's, 
who  is  a  New  England  man,  near  the  Court-house.  This  is 
eight  miles  from  Veal  Town.  Freeman  and  his  wife  seem  to 
be  what  we  call  in  our  country  very  great  Gentlefolks.  He 
keeps  a  good  house,  and  gave  me  a  fine  dinner  of  ham,  roasted 
veal,  and  green  peas.  Morristown  is  a  considerable  village, 
situated  on  high  land,  and  aff'ords  an  extensive  prospect.  In 
the  center  of  the  town  is  a  pretty  large  green,  but  the  build- 
ings in  general  are  indiff"erent ;  nor  is  there  much  of  the  ap- 
pearance of  wealth.  The  Meeting  House  is  a  small,  old,  shat- 
tered fabric,  and  the  Court-house  not  much  better.  The  land 
on  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  seems  to  be  very  indiff'erent. 
In  this  part  of  the  country  are  many  fine  orchards  and  fruit 
trees  of  all  kinds,  particularly  Peaches  and  Apricots.  Bill, 
2s.  6cZ. 

About  two   miles  out  of  this  town,  N.  E,,  I  made  a  visit  to 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  289 

an  Uncle,  Uri.ah  Cutler,  the  only  brother  of  my  Father.     I 
had  never  seen  him,  nor  had  he  seen  my  Father  for  nearly  fifty 
years.     The  old  gentleman  was  overjoyed,  when  I  told  him 
who  I  was,  and  bid  me  a  most  hearty  welcome.     I  was  much 
pleased  with  his  situation  and  circumstances.     He  has  a  very 
pretty  farm  and  decent  house.     His  land  is  excellent ;  large 
orchards  of  apple  trees,  peach  trees,  and  every  kind  of  fruit 
which  is  propagated   in  this  part  of  the  country.     He  lives  as 
well  as  a  farmer  can  wish,  and  with  very  little  labor.     Here  I 
found  a  large  pair  of  oxen,  which  he  assured  me  were  the  only 
pair  in  the  town.     He  has  also  a  very  pretty  dairy  of  cows, 
having  retained  the  ideas  of  propagating  neat  cattle,  which  he 
brought  from  New  England ;  but  he  had  partly  gone  into  the 
style    of   the    Jersey   farmers,   for    he    has    five    fine    horses. 
Although  some  of  his  neighbors  seemed,  he  said,  to  be  con- 
vinced of  the  utility  of  neat  cattle,  yet  he  could  not  in  any 
considerable  degree  prevail  on  them  to  leave  their  old  habits. 
He  thought,  however,  that  the  Jersey  people  raise  more  neat 
cattle  than  they  used  to  do.     My  Uncle  is  the  youngest  of  the 
family,   and  is  sixty-four  years  of  age,  but  is  uncommonly 
sprightly  and  active  for  that  peiuod  of  life.     Like  my  Father, 
he  has  but  one  son,  whose  name  is  Jesse,  which  has  been  much 
of  a  family  name  in  the  lateral  branches.     He  lives  in  one 
part  of  the  house,  and  has  married  a  wife,  who  bids  fair  to  be 
a  fruitful  vine,  for  she  has  had  three  children  in  four  years. 
This  son  is  the  only  surviving  child  of  eight.     He  has  had 
three    other  sons,  Abiathar,  David,  and    Jonathan.     One    of 
them  has  left  a  widow  and  two  children.     My  uncle  lives  with 
a  second  wife,  to  whom  he  has  been  married  fifteen  years,  but 
has  had  no  children  by  her.     He  seems  to  be  very  happy  in 
the  connection  his  son  has  formed,  which  he  often  mentioned 
with  particular  satisfaction.     His  son's  wife  appeared  to  be  a 
very  agreeable  woman,  and  was  descended  from  a  good  family. 
We  spent  the  afternoon  in  viewing  his  farm,  barns,  orchards, 
etc.     I  was  particularly  pleased  to  find  that  as  a  farmer  he 
was  very  neat,  his  lands  in  fine  order,  well  fenced,  and  his  lots 
judiciously  disposed.     His  crops  of  wheat  had  been  unusually 
large,  and  he  was  now  sowing  his  buckwheat,  which  he  said 
19 


290  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

was  a  profitable  grain,  and  insisted  on  my  taking  some  seed  to 
make  the  experiment  in  Massachusetts.  He  makes  a  barrel  of 
brandy  every  year  from  the  distillation  of  peaches,  but  never 
uses  it  until  it  is  two  years  old.  I  thought  it  equal  to  any 
brandy  I  ever  tasted.  As  I  was  determined  to  go  on  my 
journey  the  next  morning,  which  my  uncle  at  first  absolutely 
forbid,  he  insisted  that  we  should  make  a  long  evening,  and  we 
did  not  go  to  bed  till  after  one. 

Tuesday,  July  17.  This  morning,  when  I  proposed  setting 
out,  found  my  Uncle's  passions  much  agitated,  and  it  was  with 
pain  that  I  assured  him  I  must  go.  After  breakfast,  I  took  my 
leave  of  the  family,  with  the  promise  if  ever  I  came  into  that 
part  of  the  country  again  to  call,  and,  if  possible,  spend  more 
time.  My  Uncle  is  situated  on  high  land  ;  his  farm  is  on  the 
southern  declivity  of  a  long  hill,  with  an  extensive  prospect 
south ;  but  I  had  not  traveled  many  miles  before  the  land  be- 
came broken,  hilly,  and  some  of  it  very  poor.  Soon  after,  I 
came  to  Newark  Mountains,  which  are  in  three  ranges,  very 
high  and  steep,  with  deep  vallej^s  between  them.  From  these 
mountains,  there  is  a  very  extensive  prospect  in  every  direc- 
tion. The  road  passes  them  nearly  at  right  angles.  After  I 
had  passed  the  first,  stopped  at  a  miserable  hut  of  a  tavern, 
and  oated  my  horse,  ten  miles  from  my  Uncle's  ;  bill,  8c?. 

The  last  range  is  the  highest,  Avhere  I  had  a  fine  vieAV  of 
Staten  Island,  the  harbor  and  city  of  New  York,  etc.  The 
descent  to  NcAvark  plains  is  steep  and  bad.  Made  my  next 
stage  near  the  foot  of  the  Mountain,  at  Mountain  Meeting 
House  tavern,  so  called,  nine  miles  from  my  last  stage.  Here 
I  dined.  The  house  is  kept  by  Munn ;  very  indifi"erent  house. 
But  here  is  a  pretty  village,  a  pretty  Meeting  House,  and 
some  well-built  dwelling-houses.  There  is  here  an  Academy 
for  the  instruction  of  Youth,  which  is  an  elegant  brick  build- 
ing.    Bill,  2s.  6d. 

Three  miles  from  this  place  is  Newark  town  ;  a  fine  road 
and  good  land,  where  I  came  into  the  New  York  road.  The 
Aveather  to-day  was  very  cool,  no  dust,  and  the  riding  fine. 
Passed  over  the  long  marsh  and  ferries  the  same  way  I  went 
on  to  Philadelphia.  Ferriage  at  second  river,  Is.  2d.;  at 
Hackensack,  Is.  6d. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  291 

When  I  came  to  Bergentown,  I  was  determined  to  make 
Mons.  Meehard  *  a  visit,  to  whom  I  had  letters.  He  is  the 
French  Botanist  sent  to  America  for  the  purpose  of  establish- 
ing; a  botanical  garden,  where  he  collects  American  trees  and 
plants  of  every  species,  and  gives  in  exchange  foreign  trees 
and  plants,  which  are  sent  to  him  from  France  at  the  expense 
of  the  King.  I  was  told  he  had  established  his  garden  a  few 
miles  from  Bergentown,  and  up  the  Hudson  River ;  but  when 
I  inquired  here,  the  Dutch  people  either  did  not  or  would  not 
know  any  thing  about  sucli  a  man  or  his  gardens.  Vexed  with 
their  not  understanding  me,  or  my  not  being  able  to  under- 
stand them,  for  it  appeared  to  me  they  did  not  wish  to  give 
me  any  information,  I  rode  on  through  the  town  the  way  which 
I  supposed  would  lead  to  his  garden.  At  length,  I  obtained 
information  that  he  lived  five  miles  on  the  way  I  was  going ; 
but  I  found  it  nearer  ten,  and  the  road  most  wretched,  through 
a  lonely,  hilly  woods.  As  I  came  out  of  the  woods,  found  a 
number  of  houses  in  a  low,  sandy  piece  of  ground,  surrounded 
with  swamps.  The  first  I  came  to  was  the  Three  Pigeons 
tavern,  the  place  I  was  directed  to  inquire  for.  This  tavern 
is  kept  by  a  Dutch  woman,  and  is  as  remarkable  for  its  neat-- 
ness  as  any  house  I  ever  set  my  foot  in.  Here  I  left  my  horse, 
and  went  on  about  half  a  mile  to  Mons.  Mechard's.  Unfor- 
tunately, he  was  gone  to  the  Carolinas.  There  were  several 
gardeners,  but  they  appeared  to  understand  little  of  Botany. 
They,  however,  showed  me  the  Gardens,  and  were  very  com- 
plaisant. There  were  a  considerable  collection  of  exotic  shrubs 
and  plants,  set  in  a  kind  of  beds  for  transplanting.  The 
American  plants  they  had  received  were  mostly  sent  to 
France.  There  was  no  order  nor  beauty  in  the  gardens,  the 
soil  remarkably  sandy  and  poor,  the  situation  wretched,  and 
the  way  to  it  as  had  as  can  well  be  conceived.  Of  all  places 
in  America,  this  would  have  been  the  very  last  I  should  have 


*Andre  Michaux,  botanist,  was  born  at  Sarton,  near  Versailles,  1746; 
died  at  Madagascar,  1802.  He  was  sent  to  America,  1785.  to  collect 
and  send  trees  and  shrubs  for  the  establishment  at  Rambouillet.  He 
made  botanical  excursions  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  estab- 
lished gardens  at  Bergen,  New  Jersey,  and  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 
He  returned  to  Europe  in  1796. — See  Drake's  Did.  Am.  Biography. 


292  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

tliought  of  for  such  a  purpose.  What  could  induce  Mechard 
to  fix  down  in  this  awful,  gloomy,  lonely,  miserable  spot,  is 
beyond  my  power  to  conceive.  I  was  never  more  disappointed, 
and  regretted  the  pains  I  had  taken  to  see  the  ill  taste  and 
judgment  of  this  Botanical  Frenchman.  Bill  at  the  Three 
Pigeons,  2s.  I  returned  to  Bergentown,  and  arrived  at  Paulus- 
hook  ferry  a  little  before  sunset.  Ferriage,  3.s-.  6d.,  York 
currency.  Put  my  horse  at  Barnes',  and  lodged  again  at  Mr. 
Henderson's,  who  received  me  with  the  greatest  cordiality. 

Wednesday,  July  18.  Paid  my  respects  this  morning  to  the 
President  of  Congress,  General  St.  Clair  ;*  called  on  a  number 
of  my  friends ;  attended  at  the  City  Hall  on  Members  of  Con- 
gress  and  their  committee.     We  renewed   our  negotiations. 


*Arthui'  St.  Clair  was  born  in  Scotland,  ic  1734.  He  entered  the 
British  Army  as  Ensign  in  the  Sixtieth  F"oot  in  1757,  and  came  with 
his  regiment  to  America  in  1738.  For  good  conduct  at  Louisburg  and 
Quebec,  he  was  promoted  to  Lieutenant.  He  married  I\Iiss  Bayard,  of 
Boston  (a  niece  of  Governor  James  Bowdoin),  about  1760.  He  I'esigned 
his  commission  in  the  army  in  1  76"J,  and  two  years  later  settled  in  the 
Ligonier  Valley,  Penn.,  where  he  became  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas, 
Colonel  of  Militia,  Member  of  the  Governor's  Council,  Surveyor  of  the 
District  of  Cumberland,  and  held  other  civil  offices  of  more  or  less  im- 
portance. Ill  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  he  served  with  marked  dis- 
tinction, attaining  the  rank  of  Major-General.  In  1785,  he  was  elected 
to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  in  1787  was  chosen  its  Presi- 
dent. He  was  appointed  Governor  of  the  North-west  Territory  early 
in  1788,  and  held  the  office  until  removed  for  political  reasons  by 
President  Jefferson,  in  November,  1802.  'He  was  appointed  General- 
in-Chief  of  the  Army,  March,  1791,  and  in  ])erson  commanded  the 
troops  in  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 
His  army  was  defeated  and  routed  by  the  Indians  on  November  4, 
1791,  but  St.  Clair  was  exonerated  from  blame,  after  a  seai'ching  inves- 
tigation by  a  committee  appointed  by  Congress.  He  re.'^igned  his  com- 
mission in  the  army  in  March,  1792,  and  was  succeeded  by  General 
Anthony  VVayne.  After  being  removed  from  the  office  of  Governor, 
General  St.  Clair  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  at  his  old  home  in 
Pennsylvania.  The  shameful  conduct  of  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment in  refusing  to  reimburse  him  for  moneys  expended  in  oi'ganizing 
and  equipping  troops  in  its  service,  reduced  him  to  poverty.  He  died 
in  1818.  The  "St.  Clair  Papers,"  compiled  and  annotated  with  great 
care  by  William  Henry  Smith,  were  published  by  Robert  Clarke  &  Co. 
in  1881.  They  are  indispensable  to  a  thorough  understanding  of  the 
early  history  of  the  Northwest  Territory. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  293 

Dined  with  Captain  Hammond,  in  company  with  a  young  Irish 
nobleman  and  Mr.  liillegas,  treasurer  of  the  United  States, 
and  other  company.  Drank  tea  and  spent  the  evening  at  Sir 
John  Temple's. 

This  day  is  Commencement  at  Cambridge,  which  Major 
Sargent,  General  Webb,  and  a  few  others  called  to  mind,  and 
we  celebrated  it  at  11  o'clock,  at  General  Webb's,  with  a 
bottle  or  two  of  wine,  porter,  and  some  good  old  Cheshire 
cheese.  We  conclude  they  must  have  had  a  fine  Commence- 
ment, if  the  atmosphere  at  Cambridge  has  been  as  fine  and 
cool  as  ours  in  New  York. 

Thursday,  July  19.  Called  on  members  of  Congress  very 
early  this  morning.  Was  furnished  with  the  Ordinance  estab- 
lishing a  Government  in  the  Western  federal  Territory.  It  is  in 
a  degree  new  modeled.  The  amendments  I  proposed  have  all 
been  made  except  one,  and  that  is  better  qualified.  It  was, 
that  we  should  not  be  subject  to  Continental  taxation  until  we 
were  entitled  to  a  full  representation  in  Congress.  This  could 
not  be  fully  obtained,  for  it  was  considered  in  Congress  as  of- 
fering a  premium  to  emigrants.  They  have  granted  us  repre- 
sentation, with  right  of  debating,  but  not  of  voting,  upon  our 
being  first  subject  to  taxation. 

As  there  are  a  number  in  Congress  decidedly  opposed  to 
my  terms  of  negotiation,  and  some  to  any  contract,  I  wish  now 
to  ascertain  the  number  for  and  against,  and  who  they  are,  and 
must  then,  if  possible,  bring  the  opponents  over.  This  I  have 
mentioned  to  Colonel  Duer,  who  has  promised  to  assist  me. 
Grayson,*  R.  H.  Lee,f  and  Carrington  are  certainly  my  warm 


*  William  Grayson,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  member  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress.  In  1788,  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  of  Vir- 
ginia which  asseniblefl  to  consider  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  made  himself  conspicuous,  both  by  his  talents  and  his 
union  with  Henry,  in  opposing  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution.  From 
1789-90,  he  was  Senator  of  the  United  States,  and  died  at  Dumfries,  on 
his  way  to  the  seat  of  government,  March  12,  1790. — Did.  of  Congress 
{Laivnan). 

f  Richard  Henry  Lee.  Born  in  Stratford,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Va., 
January  20,  1782;  educated  at  Wakefield,  Yorkshire,  England.  He 
had  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  1757.  He  had  the 
honor  of  originating   the  first  resistance  of  the  British  oppression  in 


294  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

advocates.  Holton,  I  think,  may  be  trusted.  Dane  must  be 
carefully  watched,  notwithstanding  his  professions.  Clarke, 
Bingham,  Yates,  Kearney,  and  Few  are  troublesome  fellows. 
They  must  be  attacked  by  my  friends  at  their  lodgings.  If 
they  can  be  brought  over,  I  shall  succeed;  if  not,  my  business 
is  at  an  end. 

Attended  the  Committee  this  morning.  They  are  deter- 
mined to  make  a  report  to-day,  and  try  the  spirit  of  Congress. 
Dined  with  General  Knox.  About  forty  gentlemen,  officers  of 
the  late  Continental  Army,  and  among  them,  the  Baron  Steu- 
ben. General  Knox  gave  us  an  entertainment  in  the  style  of 
a  prince.  I  had  the  honor  of  being  seated  next  to  the  Baron, 
who  is  a  hearty,  sociable  old  fellow.  He  was  dressed  in  his 
military  uniform,  and  with  the  insignia  of  nobility,  the  Star 
and  Garter.  Every  gentleman  at  table  was  of  the  Cincinnati 
except  myself,  and  wore  the  proper  badges.  Spent  the  even- 
ing at  Dr.  Helton's  with  Colonel  Duer,  and  several  members 
of  Congress,  who  informed  me  an  Ordinance  Avas  passed  in 
consequence  of  my  petition,  but,  by  their  account  of  it,  it  Avill 
answer  no  purpose. 

Friday,  July  20.  This  morning  the  Secretary  of  Congress 
furnished  me  with  the  Ordinance  of  yesterday,  which  states 
the  conditions  of  a  contract,  but  on  terms  to  which  I  shall  by 
no  means  accede.  Informed  the  Committee  of  Congress  that 
I  could  not  contract  on  the  terms  proposed ;  should  prefer 
purchasing  lands  of  some  of  the  States,  who  would  give  in- 
comparably better  terms,  and  therefore  proposed  to  leave  the 
City  immediately.  They  appeared  to  be  very  sorry  no  better 
terms  were  offered,  and  insisted  on  my  not  thinking  of  leaving 
Congress  until  another  attempt  was  made.  I  told  them  I  saw 
no  prospect  of  a  contract,  and  wished  to  spend  no  more  time 


the  time  of  the  Stamp  Act,  1765.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  (Con- 
gress in  1774,  and  in  October  prepared  the  draft  of  the  memorial  to  the 
people  of  British  America.  In  accordance  with  instructions  from  the 
Virginia  Convention,  he  first  proposed  in  Congress  a  declaration  of  in- 
dependence, June  7,  1776.  He  withdrew  from  Congress  after  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Articles  of  Confederation;  re-elected,  1787;  chosen  Pres- 
ident of  that  body,  serving  till  1787.  Senator  from  1789-92.  Died  at 
Chantilly,  Va.,  June  9,  1794. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  295 

and  money  on  a  business  so  unpromising.  They  assured  me 
I  had  many  friends  in  Congress  who  woilld  make  every  exer- 
tion in  my  favor;  that  it  was  an  object  of  great  magnitude, 
and  [I]  must  not  expect  to  accomplish  it  in  less  than  two  or 
three  months.  If  I  desired  it,  they  would  take  the  matter  up 
that  day  on  different  ground,  and  did  not  doubt  they  should 
still  obtain  terms  agreeably  to  my  wishes.  Colonel  Duer  came 
to  me  with  proposals  from  a  number  of  the  principal  charac- 
ters in  the  city,  to  extend  our  contract,  and  take  in  another 
Company,  but  that  it  should  be  kept  a  profound  secret.  He 
explained  the  plan  they  had  concerted,  and  offered  me  gen- 
erous conditions,  if  I.  would  accomplish  the  business  for  them. 
The  plan  struck  me  agreeably.  Sargent  insisted  on  my  un- 
dertaking, and  both  urged  me  not  to  think  of  giving  tho'mat- 
ter  up  so  soon.  I  Avas  convinced  it  was  best  for  me  to  hold  up 
the  idea  of  giving  up  a  contract  Avith  Congress,  and  making  a 
contract  with  some  of  the  States,  which  I  did  in  the  strongest 
terms,  and  represented  to  the  Committee,  and  to  Duer  and 
Sargent,  the  difficulties  I  saw  in  the  way,  and  the  improbabil- 
ity of  closing  a  bargain  when  Ave  Avere  so  far  apart ;  and  told 
them  I  conceived  it  not  Avorth  Avhile  to  say  any  thing  further 
to  Congress  on  the  subject.  This  appeared  to  have  the  effect 
I  Avished.  The  Committee  Avere  mortified,  and  did  not  seem 
to  know  Avhat  to  say,  but  still  urged  another  attempt.  I  left 
them  in  this  state,  but  afterward  explained  my  views  to  Duer 
and  Sargent,  Avho  fully  approved  my  plan.  Promised  Duer  to 
consider  his  proposals. 

We  had  agreed  last  evening  to  make  a  party  to  Brookline, 
on  Long  Island,  Avhich  is  a  small  village  opposite  NeAV  York, 
and  divided  only  by  a  ferry  across  East  River.  Duer,  Webb, 
Hammond,  Sargent,  and  others  Avere  of  the  party.  When  Ave 
landed,  Ave  ordered  a  dinner  of  fried  oysters  at  the  Stone 
House  Tavern.  We  took  a  Avalk  on  the  high  lands,  and  viewed 
several  of  the  old  forts  erected  by  the  British  at  the  expense 
of  immense  labor.  Here  Ave  had  a  fine  prospect  of  NcAvYork, 
the  shipping  in  the  harbor,  and  of  Staten  Island.  We  dined 
at  four.  Our  dinner  Avas  elegant.  Oysters  were  cooked  in 
every  possible  form,  but  the  fried  Avere  most  delicious.  I 
spent  the  evening  (closeted)  Avith  Colonel  Duer,  and  agreed  to 


296  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

purchase  more  land,, if  terras  can  be  obtained,  for  another 
Company,  ^hich  will  probably?  forward  the  negotiations.  Bill, 
4s.  6d. 

Saturday,  July  21.  Several  members  of  Congress  called 
on  me  early  this  morning.  They  discovered  much  anxiety 
about  a  contract,  and  assured  me  that  Congress,  on  finding  I 
was  determined  not  to  accept  their  terms,  and  had  proposed 
leaving  the  City,  had  discovered  a  much  more  favorable  dis- 
position, and  believed  if  I  renewed  my  request  I  might  obtain 
conditions  as  reasonable  as  I  desired.  I  was  very  indifferent, 
and  talked  much  of  the  advantages  of  a  contract  with  some  of 
the  States.  This  I  found  had  the  desired  effect.  At  length 
told  them  if  Congress  would  accede  to  the  terms  I  had  pro- 
posed, I  Avould  extend  the  purchase  to  the  tenth  township 
from  the  Ohio,  and  to  the  Scioto  inclusively,  by  which  Con- 
gress Avould  pay  near  four  millions  of  the  national  debt ;  that 
our  intention  was  an  actual,  a  large,  and  immediate  settlement 
of  the  most  robust  and  industrious  people  in  America ;  and 
that  it  would  be  made  systematically,  which  must  instantly 
enhance  the  value  of  federal  lands,  and  prove  an  important 
acquisition  to  Congress.  On  those  terms  I  would  renew  the 
negotiations,  if  Congress  was  disposed  to  take  the  matter  up 
again. 

Dined  w^th  General  Webb,  Major  Sargent,  and  Major  Giles, 
at  the  Mess  house  in  Broadway,  opposite  the  Play  House,  at 
the  invitation  of  Major  Giles.     A  very  fine  dinner. 

Spent  the  evening  with  Mr.  Dane  and  Mr.  Milliken.  They 
informed  me  that  Congress  had  taken  up  m}^  business  again. 

Sunday,  July  22.  Attended  public  worship  in  the  morning 
at  the  Old  Brick,  in  Wall  Street.  Dr.  Rogers  preached.  He 
makes  no  use  of  notes,  but  he  arranged  his  subject  very  well; 
gave  us  a  very  pretty  sermon  on  the  first  part  of  Our  Lord's 
prayer.  His  address  is  easy,  soft,  and  engaging — no  display 
of  oratory,  commonly  so  called.  His  style  was  pure,  senti- 
mental, and  nervous,  but  plain  and  familiar.  .  He  made  me 
often  think  of  Dr.  Cooper.  I  dined  wi_th  Mr.  Hazard,  Post- 
master-General. In  the  afternoon  attended  the  same  meeting. 
Mr.  Wilson  preached.  He  uses  no  notes,  nor  are  they  much 
used  by  any  clergymen  in  the  city.     His   subject  on    Envy. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  297 

He  was  sufficiently  methodical,  but  is  not  a  good  preacher, 
nor  was  there  an}''  thing  extraordinary  in  his  sermon.  It  was 
rather  a  harangue ;  but  he  was  very  catholic  in  his  senti- 
ments. 

In  the  evening  attended  a  lecture  at  the  Old  Dutch  Church, 
The  sermon  was  delivered  in  Dutch,  with  a  great  deal  of  ve- 
hemence and  pathos,  but  whether  it  was  good  or  bad  I  knoAV 
not. 

3Ionday,  July  23.  My  friends  had  made  every  exertion  in 
private  conversation  to  bring  over  my  opposers  in  Congress. 
In  ordei-  to  get  at  some  of  them,  so  as  to  work  powerfully  on 
their  minds,  were  obliged  to  engage  three  or  four  persons  be- 
fore we  could  get  at  them.  In  some  instances  we  engaged 
one  person,  who  engaged  a  second,  and  he  a  third,  and  so  on 
to  a  fourth,  before  Ave  could  eifect  our  purpose.  In  these 
maneuvers  I  am  much  beholden  to  the  assistance  of  Colonel 
Duer  and  Major  Sargent. 

The  matter  was  taken  up  this  morning  in  Congress,  and 
warmly  debated  until  3  o'clock,  when  another  ordinance  was 
obtained.  This  was  not  to  the  minds  of  my  friends,  who  were 
now  considerably  increased  in  Congress,  but  they  conceived  it 
better  than  the  former ;  and  they  had  obtained  an  additional 
clause  empowering  the  Board  of  Treasury  to  take  Ordei"  upon 
this  Ordinance,  and  complete  a  contract  on  the  general  prin- 
ciples contained  in  it,  which  still  left  room  for  negotiation. 

Dined  with  Mr.  Henderson,*  for  the  first  time  since  I  have 

*  Hugh  Henderson  was  a  iScotchnian,  born  in  Scotland  in  1747; 
came  to  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  in  1770,  and  went  into  V)nsiness 
there,  his  store  in  1775  beinsr  "  o))posite  to  the  Printing  office."  He  mar- 
ried Hannah,  daughter  of  .Jacob  Sheaffe,  of  Portsmouth,  one  of  whose 
sisters  was  the  wiie  of  President  Willard,  of  Harvard  University.  He 
was  a  strong  Loyalist,  and,  being  cited  to  appear  before  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  was  mobbed  and  maltreated  on  the  way.  Soon  alter,  he  left 
with  his  family  for  New  York,  and  his  name  appears  in  the  New 
Hampshire  Act  of  1778,  of  persons  who  have  joined  the  enemy.  He 
remained  in  New  York  during  the  war  as  an  importer  of  dry  goods, 
etc.,  from  London,  at  No.  l!4  Queen,  now  Pearl  Street,  and  continued 
in  business  there  after  the  peace  of  1783.  Ii\  1787  he  removed  to  No. 
5  Golden  Hill  (now  John  Street),  and  in  1789  to  71  William  Street, 
where  he  failed  the  same  year.  In  1700  he  was  iigain  in  business  at 
4  William   Street,  and   in    1790   at   the  corner  of   William   Street  and 


298  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

been  in  the  city,  which  he  insisted  upon,  although  I  had  several 
other  invitations.  A  fine  shower  in  the  afternoon.  Spent  the 
evening  with  Colonel  Grayson,  and  members  of  Congress  from 
the  southward  who  were  in  favor  of  a  contract.  Having  found 
it  impossible  to  support  General  Parsons  as  a  candidate  for 
Governor  after  the  interest  that  General  St.  Clair  had  secured, 
and  suspecting  this  might  be  some  impediment  in  the  way — 
for  my  endeavors  to  make  interest  for  him  were  Vvcll  knoAvn — 
and  the  arrangement  of  civil  officers  being  on  the  carpet,  I 
eifiljraced  this  opportunity  frankly  to  declare  that,  for  my  own 
part,  and  ventured  to  engage  for  Major  Sargent,  that  if  Gen- 
eral Parsons  could  have  the  appointment  of  the  first  Judge, 
and-  Sargent  Secretary,  Ave  should  be  satisfied,  and  that  I 
heartily  wished  his  Excellency  General  St.  Clair  might  be  the 
Governor,  and  that  I  would  solicit  the  eastern  members  to 
favor  such  an  arrangement.  This  I  found  rather  pleasing  to 
the  southern  members,  and  they  were  so  complaisant  as  to 
ask,  repeatedly,  what  office  would  be  agreeable  to  me  in  the 
western  country.  I  assured  them  I  wished  for  no  appointment 
in  the  civil  line.  Colonel  Grayson  proposed  the  office  of  one 
of  the  judges,  which  was  seconded  by  all  the  gentlemen  pres- 
ent. The  obtaining  an  appointment,  I  observed,  had  never 
come  into  my  mind,  nor  was  there  any  civil  office  I  should,  at 
present,  be  willing  to  accept.  This  declaration  seemed  to  be 
rather  surprising,  especially  to  men  who  were  so  much  used 
to  solicit  or  be  solicited  for  appointments  of  honor  or  profit ; 
they  seemed  to  be  the  more  urgent  on  this  head.  I  observed 
to  them,  although  I  wished  for  nothing  for  myself,  yet  I 
thought  the  Ohio  Company  entitled  to  some  attention ;  that 
one  of  the  judges,  besides  General  Parsons,  should  be  of  that 
body,  and  that  General  Putnam  was  the  man  best  qualified, 
and  would  be  most  agreeable  to  the  Company,  and  gave  them 
his  character.  We  spent  the  evening  very  agreeably  until  a 
late  hour. 


Maiden  Lane.  He  joined  liie  St.  Andrew's  Society  in  1784;  and  died 
in  1794,  leaving  seven  childi'en — two  others  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Henderson  returned,  after  his  death,  to  Portsmouth,  X.  11.,  where  she 
married,  secondly,  William  Hart,  and  died  there  September  1,  1845,  at 
the  great  age  of  95  years. — E.  F.  de  Lancey. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  299 

Tuesday,  July  24.  I  received  this  morning  a  letter  from 
the  Board  of  Treasury,  inclosing  the. Resolutions  of  Congress 
Avhich  passed  yesterday,  and  requesting  to  know  whether  I  was 
ready  to  close  a  contract  on  those  terms.  As  the  contract  had 
now  become  of  much  greater  magnitude  than  Avhen  I  had  only 
the  Ohio  Company  in  view,  I  felt  a  diffidence  in  acting  alone, 
and  wished  Major  Sargent  to  be  joined  with  me,  although  he 
had  not  been  formally  empowered  to  act,  for  the  commission 
from  the  Directors  was  solely  to  me.  It  would,  likewise,  take 
off  some  part  of  the  responsibility  from  me,  if  the  contract 
should  not  be  agreeable.  After  consulting  Duer,  I  proposed 
it  to  Sargent,  who  readily  accepted.  We  answered  the  letter 
from  the  Board  as  jointly  commissioned  in  making  the  con- 
tract. We  informed  the  Board  that  the  terms  in  the  Resolve 
of  Congress  were  such  as  we  could  not  accede  to,  without 
some  variations.  We  therefore  beo-o-ed  leave  to  state  to  the 
Board  the  terms  on  which  we  Avere  ready  to  close  the  con- 
tract, and  that  those  terms  must  be  our  Ultimatum.  This  let- 
ter we  sent  to  the  Board;  but  the  packet  having  just  arrived 
from  England,  and  another  to  sail  the  next  morning,  it  was 
not  in  their  power  to  attend  any  further  to  our  business  for 
the  day.  Dined  with  Mr.  Hillegas,  treasurer  of  the  United 
States.  Spent  the  evening  with  Mr.  Osgood,  President  of  the 
Board  of  Treasury,  who  appeared  to  very  solicitous  to  be 
fully  informed  of  our  plan.  No  gentleman  has  a  higher  char- 
acter for  planning  and  calculating  than  Mr.  Osgood.  1  was, 
therefore,  much  pleased  with  having  an  opportunity  of  fully 
explaining  it  to  him.  But  we  were  unfortunately  interrupted 
with  company.  We,  however,  went  over  the  outlines,  and  he 
appeared  to  be  well  disposed. 

Wednesday,  July  25.  This  morning  the  Board  of  Treasury 
sent  our  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  Congress,  requesting  him 
to  lay  it  before  Congress  for  their  approbation  or  rejection. 
But  the  packets  from  Europe,  received  yesterday  by  the 
British  Packet,  occupied  the  attention*  of  Congress  for  the  day. 

Mr.  Osgood  desired  me  to  dine  with  him,  assuring  me  he 
had  purposely  omitted  inviting  any  other  company,  that  we 
might  not  be  interrupted  in  going  over  our  plan. 

I  had  been  repeatedly  assured  Mr.  Osgood  was  my  friend, 


300  ■      Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

and  that  he  had  censured  Cono;ress  for  not  consenting  to  the 
terms  I  had  offered ;  but  such  is  the  intrigue  and  artifice  which 
is  often  practiced  by  men  in  power,  that  I  felt  very  suspicious, 
and  was  as  cautious  as  possible.  Our  plan,  however,  I  had  not 
scruple  to  communicate,  and  went  over  it  in  all  its  parts.  Mr- 
Osgood  made  many  valuable  observations.  The  extent  of  his 
information  astonished  me.  His  views  of  the  Continent  and 
of  Europe  were  so  enlarged  that  he  appeared  to  be  a  perfect 
master  of  every  subject  of  this  kind.  He  highly  approved 
our  plan,  and  told  me  he  thought  it  the  best  ever  formed  in 
America.  He  dwelt  much  on  the  advantages  of  System  in  a 
new  Settlement,  said  System  had  never  before  been  attempted  ; 
that  we  might  depend  on  accomplishing  our  purpose  in  Europe, 
and  that  it  was  a  most  important  part  of  our  plan.  If  we  were 
able  to  establish  a  settlement  as  we  proposed,  however  small 
in  the  beginning,  we  should  then  have  surmounted  our  greatest 
difficulty;  that  every  other  object  would  be  Avithin  our  reach, 
and,  if  the  matter  was  pursued  with  spirit,  he  believed  it  would 
prove  one  of  the  greatest  undertakings  ever  yet  attempted  in 
America.  He  thought  Congress  would  do  an  essential  service 
to  the  United  States  if  they  gave  us  the  land,  rather  than  our 
plan  should  be  defeated,  and  promised  to  make  every  exertion 
in  his  power  in  our  favor.  We  spent  the  afternoon  and  even- 
ing alone  and  very  agreeably. 

Thursday^  July  26.  This  morning  I  accompanied  General 
St.  Clair  and  General  Knox  on  a  tour  of  morning  visits,  and 
particularly  to  the  Foreign  Ministers.  This  visit  had  been 
previously  proposed  by  General  Knox,  who  was  so  obliging  as 
to  introduce  me  to  them.  We  called  first  on  the  Sieur  Otto, 
Charge  des  Affaires  from  the  French  Court,  in  Queen  Street. 
He  received  us  very  politel;f,  and  was  exceedingly  sociable. 
He  speaks  good  English,  and  has  a  truly  philosophic  mind. 
Although  he  is  not  the  Minister  plenipotentiary,  for  there  is 
none  at  present  from  France,  but  he  acts  as  such  and  lives  in 
the  style  of  a  nobleman.  His  servants  and  attendants  were 
numerous.  We  made  our  next  visit  to  Don  Diego  de  Gardoqui, 
Plenipotentiary,  "  Encargado  de  Negocios,"  from  the  Court  of 
Spain.  He  seemed  to  be  more  on  the  reserve  than  Mens.  Otto, 
but  was  very  complaisant.     General  Knox  is  his  oracle  and 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  301 

confidant.  To  me  he  appeared  to  be  a  genuine  Spaniard. 
He  lives  in  an  elegant  style,  and  has  taken  a  large  house  in 
Hanover  Square.  After  taking  our  leave  of  Mons'r  Gardoqui, 
we  call  on  Heer  de  Heer  Van  Berckle,  in  Wall  Street,  near  the 
City  Hall.  Mons'r  Van  Berckle  is  Minister  Plenipotentiary 
from  their  Great  and  Mighty  Lords,  the  States  General  of  the 
United  Netherlands.  He  is  a  jovial,  frank,  open  Dutchman  ; 
speaks  bad  English,  but  very  talkative.  He  is  fond  of  con- 
versing about  the  western  country,  and  seems  to  interest  him- 
self much  in  the  settlement  of  the  western  lands.  This  was 
our  longest  visit,  and  being  now  eleven.  General  St.  Clair  was 
obliged  ti  attend  Congress.  After  we  came  into  the  street. 
General  St.  Clair  assured  me  he  would  make  every  possible 
exertion  to  prevail  with  Congress  to  accept  the  terms  contained 
in  our  letter.  He  appeared  much  interested  and  very  friendly, 
but  said  we  must  expect  opposition.  I  was  now  fully  con- 
vinced that  it  was  good  policy  to  give  up  Parsons,  and  openly 
to  appear  solicitous  that  St.  Clair  might  be  appointed  Gov- 
ernor. Several  gentlemen  have  told  me  that  our  matters  went 
on  much  better  since  St.  Clair  and  his  friends  had  been  in- 
formed that  we  had  given  up  Parsons,  and  that  I  had  solicited 
the  eastern  members  in  favor  of  his  appointment. 

I  immediately  went  to  Sargent  and  Duer.  We  now  entered 
into  the  true  spirit  of  negotiations  with  great  bodies ;  every  ma- 
chine in  the  city  that  it  was  possible  to  set  to  work  we  now  put 
in  motion.  Few,*  Bingham, f  and  Kearney  are  our  princi- 
pal opposers.  Of  Few  and  Bingham  there  is  hope,  but  to 
bring  over  that  stubborn  mule  of  a  Kearney  I  think  is  beyond 


*Colonel  V\''illiam  Few,  a  patriot  ofthe  Revolution,  who  distin>:uishecl 
himself  in  seveial  battles  with  the  British  and  Indians,  was  born  in 
Maryland,  in  1748,  but  became  a  citizen  of  Georgia;  was  a  delegate  in 
Congress  trom  1780  to  the  peace,  and  again  elected  in  1786.  In  his 
latter  years  he  lived  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  died  at  Kishkill, 
1828,  aged  81.— /)r.  ,S.  P.  HUdreth. 

f  William  Bingham,  born  in  Philadelphia,  1751,  died  in  Bath,  Eng- 
gland,  1804.  During  the  Revolution  he  was  American  agent  at  Mar- 
tinique. He  was  a  delegate  to  Congress,  1787,  and  United  States  Sen- 
ator, 1795  to  1801.  His  wife,  formerly  Miss  Anna  Welling,  of  Phila- 
delphia, was  celebrated  for  her  beauty  and  accomplishments. — See 
Drake's  Diclionary  of  American  Biography. 


302  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

our  power.  The  Board  of  Treasury,  I  think,  will  do  us  much 
service,  if  Dr.  Lee  is  not  against  us.  Though  Duer  as- 
sures me  I  have  got  the  length  of  his  foot,  and  that  he  calls 
me  an  open,  frank,  honest  New  England  man,  which  he  con- 
siders as  an  uncommon  animal,  yet  from  his  natural  jealous, 
cautious  make,  I  feel  suspicious  of  him,  especially  as  Mr. 
Osgood  tells  me  he  has  made  every  attempt  to  learn  his  senti- 
ments, but  is  not  able  to  do  it.  His  brother,  Richard  Henry 
Lee,  is  certainly  our  fast  friend,  and  we  have  hopes  that  he 
will  engage  him  in  our  interest. 

Dined  with  Sir  John  Temple.  Several  gentlemen  in  com- 
pany. Immediately  after  dining  took  my  leave  and  called  on  Dr. 
Holton.  He  told  me  that  Congress  had  been  warmly  engaged 
on  our  business  the  whole  day  ;  that  the  opposition  was  les- 
sened, but  our  friends  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  come  to  a 
vote,  lest  there  should  not  be  a  majority  in  favor.  I  felt 
much  discouraged,  and  told  the  Doctor  I  thought  it  in  vain  to 
wait  longer,  and  should  certainly  leave  the  city  the  next  day. 
He  cried  out  on  my  impatience,  said  if  I  obtained  mj  pur- 
pose in  a  month  from  that  time  I  should  be  far  more  expe- 
ditious than  was  common  in  getting  much  smaller  matters 
through  Congress  ;  that  it  was  of  great  magnitude,  for  it  far 
exceeded  any  private  contract  ever  made  before  in  the  United 
States ;  that  if  I  should  fail  now,  I  ought  still  to  pursue  the 
matter,  for  I  should  most  certainly  finally  obtain  the  object  I 
wished.  To  comfort  me  he  assured  me  that  it  Avas  impossi- 
ble for  him  to  conceive  by  what  kind  of  address  I  had  so 
soon  and  so  warmly  engaged  the  attention  of  Congress,  for 
since  he  had  been  a  member  of  that  body  he  assured  me  on 
his  honor  he  never  knew  so  much  attention  paid  to  any  one 
person  who  made  application  to  them  on  any  kind  of  business, 
nor  did  he  ever  know  them  more  pressing  to  bring  it  to  a 
close.  He  could  not  have  supposed  that  any  three  men  from 
New  England,  even  of  the  first  character,  could  have  accom- 
plished so  much  in  so  short  a  time.  This,  I  believe,  was 
mere  flattery,  though  it  was  delivered  with  a  very  serious 
air,  but  it  gave  me  some  consolation.  I  now  learned 
very  nearly  Avho  Avere  for  and  who  were  against  the  terms. 
Bingham  is  come  over,  but  Few  and   Kearney  are   stubborn. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Iana8seh  Cutler.  303 

Unfortunately  there  are  only  eight  states  represented,  and 
unless  seven  of  them  are .  in  favor  no  ordinance  can  pass. 
Every  moment  of  this  evening  until  two  o'clock  was  busily 
employed.  A  warm  seige  was  laid  on  Few  and  Keaimey  from 
different  quarters,  and  if  the  point  is  not  effectually  carried 
the  attack  is  to  be  renewed  in  the  morning.  Duer,  Sargent, 
and  myself  have  also  agreed,  if  we  fail,  that  Sargent  shall  go 
on  to  Maryland,  which  is  not  at  present  represented,  and  pre- 
vail on  the  members  to  come  on,  and  to  interest  them,  if  possible, 
in  our  plan.  I  am  to  go  on  to  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island, 
to  solicit  the  members  from  these  states  to  go  on  to  New  York, 
and  to  lay  an  anchor  to  the  windward  with  them.  As  soon  as 
those  states  are  represented  Sargent  is  to  renew  the  applica- 
tion, and  I  have  promised  Duer,  if  it  be  found  necessary,  I 
will  then  come  on  to  New  York  again. 

Friday.,  July  27.  I  rose  very  early  this  morning,  and,  after 
adjusting  my  baggage  for  my  return,  for  I  was  determed  to 
leave  New  York  this  day,  I  set  out  on  a  general  morning  visit, 
and  paid  my  respects  to  all  the  members  of  Congress  in  the 
city,  and  informed  them  of  my  intention  to  leave  the  city  that 
day.  My  expectations  of  obtaining  a  contract,  I  told  them, 
were  nearly  at  an  end.*  I  should,  however,  wait  the  decision 
of  Congress,  and  if  the  terms  we  had  stated,  and  which  I  con- 
ceived to  be  exceedingly  advantageous  to  Congress,  consider- 
ing the  circumstances  of  that  country,  were  not  acceded  to,  we 

*  When  Dr.  Cutler  told  the  Committee  that  he  could  not  accede  to 
their  terms,  and  proposed  to  leave  the  city  immediately,  as  he  could 
make  better  terms  with  the  states,  it  was  making  a  legitimate  use  of 
an  alternative  that  was  clearly  within  his  reach.  His  own  state  would 
sell  Maine  lands  at  fifty  cents  per  acre,  and  receive  government  secur- 
ities in  payment,  and  for  a  large  amount  probably  at  a  less  rate.  He 
knew  that  a  strong  current  was  setting  tovvai'd  Maine  from  among  his 
own  neighbors  and  acquaintances.  Several  of  the  old  officers,  such  as 
Knox  and  Lincoln,  went  eastward.  The  strong  probability  is,  that  the 
opportunity  of  locating  Bounty  Warrants  on  U.  8.  Government  lands, 
and  tlie  direction  given  by  Washington  to  his  companions  toward  the 
Ohio  country,  decided  the  question  of  location. 

It  was  "pointed  out  to  them  by  their  Commander-in-Chief,"  as  the 
Directors  of  the  Ohio  ("ompany  subsequently  placed  on  their  records. 
There  was,  therefore,  no  attempt  to  overreach  or  dissemble  in  thus 
urging  an  alternative  which  the  Committee  well  knew  was  a  legitimate 


304  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

must  turn  our  attention  to  some  other  part  of  the  country. 
New  York,  Connecticut,  and  Massachusetts  "would  sell  us  lands 
at  half  a  dollar,  and  give  us  exclusive  privileges  beyond  what 
we  had  asked  of  Congress.  The  speculating  plan  concerted 
between  the  British  in  Canada  and  New  Yorkers  was  now  well 
known.  The  uneasiness  of  the  Kentucky  people  with  respect 
to  the  Mississippi  was  notorious.  A  revolt  of  that  country 
from  the  Union,  if  a  war  with  Spain  took  place,  was  universally 
acknowledged  to  be  highly  probable.  And  most  certainly  a 
system.atic  settlement  in  that  country,  conducted  by  men 
strongly  attached  to  the  federal  government,  and  composed  of 
young,  robust,  and  hardy  laborers,  who  had  no  idea  of  any 
other  than  the  federal  government,  I  conceived  to  be  objects 
worthy  of  some  attention.  Besides,  if  Congress  rejected  the 
terms  now  offered,  there  could  be  no  prospect  of  any  applica- 
tion from  any  other  quarter.  If  a  fair  and  honorable  purchase 
could  not  be  obtained,  I  presumed  contracts  with  the  natives, 
similar  to  that  made  with  the  Six  Nations,  must  be  the  conse- 
quence, especially  as  it  might  be  much  more  easily  carried 
into  effect.  These  and  such  like  were  the  arguments  I  urged. 
They  seemed  to  be  fully  acceded  to,  but  whether  they  will 
avail  is  very  uncertain.  Mr.  R.  H.  Lee  assured  me  he  was 
prepared  for  one  hour's  speech,  and  he  hoped  for  success.  All 
urged  me  not  to  leave  the  city  so  soon ;  but  I  assumed  the  air 
of  perfect  indifference,  and  persisted  in  my  determination, 
which  had  apparently  the  effect  I  wished.  Passing  the  City 
Hall  as  the  members  were  going  in  to  Congress,  Colonel  Car- 
rington  told  me  he  believed  Few  was  secured,  that  little 
Kearney  was  left  alone,  and  that  he  determined  to  make  one 
trial  of  what  he  could  do  in  Congress.  Called  at  Sir  John 
Temple's  for  letters  to  Boston  ;  bid  my  friends  good-by ;  and, 


one.  His  own  preference  was  decided  enoujrh,  and  in  giving  notice  of 
his  intention  to  leave  tlie  city,  he  hoped,  and  may  have  expected,  that 
it  would  result  favorably  to  his  own  wishes  and  those  of  his  associates. 
The  family  tradition,  as  preserved  in  writing  by  Ephraim  Cutler,  is, 
that  Western  New  York  would  have  been  the  location  selected  by  Dr. 
Cutler  and  his  associates,  in  case  of  failure  to  secure  from  Congress 
lands  in  the  Ohio  Valley. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  305 

as  it  was  my  last  day,  Mr.  Henderson  insisted  on  ray  dining   ' 
with  him  and  a  number  of  his  friends  whom  he  had  invited. 

At  half-past  three,  I  was  informed  that  an  Ordinance  had 
passed  Congress  on  the  terms  stated  in  our  letter,  without  the 
least  variation,  and  that  the  Board  of  Treasury  was  directed 
to  take  Order  and  close  the  contract.  This  was  very  agree- 
able but  unexpected  intelligence.  Sargent  and  I  went  imme- 
diately to  the  Board,  who  had  received  the  Ordinance,  but  were 
then  rising.  They  urged  me  to  tarry  the  next  day,  and  they 
would  put  by  all  other  business  to  complete  the  contract ;  but 
I  found  it  inconvenient,  and,  after  making  a  general  verbal 
adjustment,  left  it  with  Sargent  to  finish  what  remained  to  be 
done  at  present.  Dr.  Lee  congratulated  me,  and  declared  he 
would  do  all  in  his  power  to  adjust  the  terms  of  the  contract, 
so  far  as  was  left  to  them,  as  much  in  our  favor  as  possible. 
I  proposed  three  months  for  collecting  the  first  half-million 
dollars  and  for  executing  the  instruments  of  Contract,  which 
was  acceded  to.  By  this  Ordinance,  we  obtained  the  grant 
of  near  5,000,000  of  acres  of  land,  amounting  to  three  millions 
and  a  half  of  dollars,  one  million  and  a  half  of  acres  for  the 
Ohio  Company,  and  the  remainder  for  a  private  speculation,  in 
which  many  of  the  principal  characters  in  America  are  con- 
cerned. Without  connecting  this  speculation,  similar  terms 
and  advantages  could  not  have  been  obtained  for  the  Ohio 
Company. 

On  my  return  through  Broadway,  I  received  the  congratu- 
lations of  a  number  of  my  friends  in  Congress,  and  others, 
whom  I  happened  to  meet  with.  At  half  after  six,  took  my 
leave  of  Mr.  Henderson  and  family,  where  I  had  been  most 
kindly  and  generously  entertained,  and  left  the  city  by  way  of 
the  Bowery.     My  bill  at  Barnes',  23s.  6d. 

Although  I  felt  great  anxiety  to  return,  yet  I  left  the  city 
of  New  York  with  reluctance.  The  attention  and  generous 
treatment  I  had  met  with  here  was  totally  different  from  what 
I  had  ever  before  met  with.  My  business  and  introductory 
letters  were  the  occasion  of  my  forming  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance, and  with  those  of  the  first  character.  I  passed  away  my 
time,  notwithstanding  all  my  labor  and  fatigue,  in  a  constant 
20 


306  Life  of  Rev.  3Iana8seh  Cutler. 

round  of  pleasure.  Some  of  my  acquaintances  here  I  shall 
ever  consider  among  the  first  with  whom  I  have  had  the  hap- 
piness to  form  a  connection,  particularly  Colonel  Duer,  who 
took  his  leave  in  the  most  affectionate  manner.  He  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  the  most  sprightly  abilities,  and  has  a  soul  filled 
with  the  Avarmest  benevolence  and  generosity.  He  is  made 
both  for  business  and  the  enjoyment  of  life,  his  attachments 
strong  and  sincere,  and  diffuses  happiness  among  his  friends, 
while  he  enjoys  a  full  share  of  it  himself.  Mr.  Hazard  is 
another  gentleman  with  whom  I  should  wish  to  spend  the  re- 
maining part  of  my  life. 

The  city  of  New  York  approaches  to  an  oblong  square  form, 
though  not  regular.  It  is  most  beautifully  situated  on  elevated 
ground  gradually  descending  toward  East  River.  It  contains 
between  four  and  five  thousand  houses,  and  thirty  and  forty 
thousand  inhabitants.  It  is  under  the  government  of  a  mayor, 
recorder,  seven  aldermen,  and  seven  assistants  or  common 
councilmen.  By  them  the  markets,  fairs,  assize  of  bread  and 
wine,  etc.,  licensing  retailers,  taverns,  carters,  truckmen,  por- 
ters, repairing  streets,  etc.,  are  regulated,  and  the  city  derives 
the  greatest  advantages  for  regulating  her  internal  police  by 
being  incorporated.  The  streets  in  the  center  of  the  city  are 
nearly  at  right  angles,  but  the  several  streets  are  very  differ- 
ent in  their  width.  Wall  Street  is  spacious  and  the  build- 
ings magnificent.  Broad  Street,  Nassau  Street,  and  Williams 
Street,  as  are  Great  and  Little  King  Streets,  are  all  very 
pretty  streets ;  but  Queen  Street  exceeds  any  street  in  the 
city.  It  is  wide  and  more  than  one  mile  and  a  half  in  length. 
The  buildings  are  grand,  from  four  to  six  stories  high,  and  the 
sides  of  the  street  within  the  posts  are  laid  principally  with 
free-stone,  sufficiently  Avide  for  three  persons  to  walk  abreast. 
The  buildings  in  Hanover  Square,  and  part  of  Dock  Street, 
exceed  any  part  of  the  city  for  grandeur.  The  streets  are 
'kept  in  fine  order,  pavements  entire  and  even,  no  teams  draAvn 
with  more  than  one  horse,  or  with  iron-shod  wheels,  are  al- 
lowed to  pass  the  streets.  The  pavements  gradually  descend 
from  the  houses  to  the  center  of  the  streets,  Avhere  the  gutters 
are  for  carrying  off  the  water.  Broadway  is  a  grand  street, 
being  eighty  feet  wide,  and  situated  o\i  high  ground  on  th'e  west- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  307 

ern  side  of  the  city,  toward  North  River ;  but  the  buildings, 
which  have  been  newly  erected,  and  are  only  temporary  ac- 
commodations, are  not  elegant.  There  are,  however,  a  num- 
ber of  most  noble  buildings  erected  in  this  street,  and  many 
more  begun.  In  time  it  will  be  the  finest  in  the  city.  In  this 
street  the  gentry  ride  every  morning  and  afternoon  in  their 
carriages,  which  are  generally  very  grand,  and  are  principally 
Coaches,  Chariots,  and  Phaetons.  The  common  people  ride 
in  open  chairs.  I  did  not  see  more  than  two  or  three  chaises 
in  the  city.  Broadway  leads  from  the  fort,  or  White  Hall 
Square,  to  the  common,  and  so  out  of  the  city  through  the 
Bowery.  The  common  is  considerably  large,  in  a  triangular 
form,  and  surrounded  with  buildings.  On  the  northern  side 
side  of  the  Square  are  three  very  elegant  large  public 
buildings,  Avhich  make  a  fine  appearance  at  a  distance,  all 
built  of  free-stone,  with  a  handsome  fence  inclosing  a 
court-yard  in  front.  But,  when  you  come  near  them,  you 
can  not  fail  of  being  extremely  disgusted  at  the  wretched 
taste  and  impropriety  of  erecting  buildings  for  the  pur- 
poses to  which  these  are  appropriated  in  the  most  airy 
and  pleasant  part  of  the  city,  and  by  which  a  vast  concourse 
of  people  are  constantly  passing.  The  first  is  the  Prison,  four 
stories  high,  and  a  beautiful  cupola  on  top.  Near  by  it  is 
what  I  at  first  took  to  be  a  beautiful  summer-house,  raised 
from  the  ground.  It  is  in  a  square  form,  the  sides  ornamented 
with  checker-worked  banisters,  and  the  roof  in  the  Chinese 
taste ;  the  whole  very  handsomely  painted.  I  was  surprised 
to  see  so  elegant  a  summer-house  so  near  this  building,  which 
I  found,  by  the  iron-grates  to  be  a  prison,  but,  on  inspection, 
found  it  was  a  Gallows,  accommodated  for  turning  off  six  crim- 
inals at  a  time.  Certainly  criminals  here  must  make  their 
exit  into  the  other  world  in  high  taste.  The  next  Public 
Building  is  the  Alms-house,  and  the  third,  which  is  very  long 
and  high,  is  Bridewell.  The  buildings  themselves  would  be 
very  ornamental  to  this  common,  were  it  not  for  their  odious 
contents.  Such  buildings,  I  think,  ought  ever  to  be  placed  in 
the  most  recluse  part  of  the  city,  where  people  are  not  under 
the  necessity  of  having  their  feelings  constantly  shocked,  until 
the  noble  principle  of  humanity  is  become  so  hardened  as  not 


308  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

to  be  moved  with  those  pitiable  objects.  There  are  many- 
spacious  public  buildings  in  this  city  which  I  have  not  de- 
scribed. The  houses  for  public  worship  are  very  numerous, 
many  of  them  spacious  and  adorned  with  towering  steeples. 
St.  Paul's  Church,  in  Broadway,  is  the  largest ;  it  is  truly  a 
grand  building.  The  floor  of  this,  and,  I  think,  all  the  other 
churches,  is  laid  with  polished  free-stone.  The  carvings  and 
paintings  are  elegant.  At  the  end  of  the  St.  Paul's,  is  a 
piazza,  raised  several  steps  from  the  ground,  making  a  spa- 
cious walk,  the  roof  of  which  is  supported  by  six  pillars  of 
free-stone,  sixty  feet  high  and  six  feet  in  diameter. 

At  the  southern  end  of  the  city  on  the  point  of  the  Island, 
where  North  and  East  Rivers  meet,  is  an^old  fort,  now  much 
out  of  repair,  and  which  is  soon   to  be  removed,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  erecting  houses  in  a  part  of  the  city  so  convenient  for 
doing  business.     This  fort  is  built  on  a  prodigious  mound  of 
earth  raised  for  that  purpose,  which   makes  the  walls  next  the 
harbor  near  forty  feet  high,  and  seems  to  be  well  situated  for 
commanding  the   entrance   into   both  rivers ;  but  forts  where 
there  is  a  passage  by  them  are  now  found  to  be  of  very  little  use. 
Around  this  fort  is  the  Mall,  Avhere  a  vast  concourse  of  gentle- 
men and  ladies  are  constantly  walking   a  little   before   sunset 
and  in  the  evening.     On  the  part  of  the  Mall  next  the  water, 
which  is  of  considerable  extent,  is  a  broad  and  most  beautiful 
glacis  (built  up  with  free-stone  from  the  water),  on  which  they 
walk.     This  is  a  cool  and  most  delightful  walk  in  an  evening, 
having  the  sea  open  as  far  as  Staten  Island  and   Redhook,  but 
in  the  day-time  it  greatly  wants  the   shade  of  trees.     On  the 
northern  part  of  the  city  is  a  large  hospital,  built  with  free- 
stone, with  two  extended  wings.     It  is  in  a  good  situation,  but 
is  very  little  attended  to,  having   only  a  few  seamen  in  it.     I 
passed    by  it    several    times,   but    did  not   go    into    it.     The 
markets  in  this  city  are  kept  in  the  finest  order,  and  abound 
with  the  best  of  meat,  a  variety  of  fish,  every  kind  of  vege- 
table   and    fruit.     The    fish  are  sold  alive  ;  if  they  are  dead 
they  abate  one  penny  on   the   pound.     The   principal  is  Fly 
market,  in  Water  street ;  the  next  is  Oswago  market,  in  Broad- 
way.    Bakers'  market  and   Merchants'  Hall  market   are  also 
large. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  309 

There  is  perhaps  no  city  or  town  of  any  considerable  magni- 
tude where  such  perfect  order  is  preserved  as  in  New  York. 
The  people  apply  themselves  to  business,  and  much  is  done  in 
this  city.  The  several  classes  of  people  mix  very  little.  Their 
manners  are  agreeable,  and  complaisant  to  strangers.  Their 
dress  is  very  neat  and  clean ;  the  higher  ranks  dress  richly, 
but  not  gaudy.  This  is  the  center  of  mercantile  trade,  and  of 
course  money  is  plenty.  The  shipping  in  this  harbor  is  ex- 
ceedingly numerous,  and  there  is  constantly  here  a  French  and 
British  packet.  There  is  a  play-house,  but  the  actors  do  not 
perform  in  the  summer,  but  there  are  constant  exhibitions 
from  rope-dancers,  mountebanks,  jugglers,  and  show-men. 

I  made  my  first  stage  at  Kingsbridge.  Although  my  horse 
had  not  been  harnassed  to  my  knowledge  for  a  fortnight,  and 
I  had  ordered  her  eight  quarts  of  oats  per  day,  her  spirits  flag- 
ged more  in  riding  to  Kingsbridge  than  at  any  other  time 
before  in  my  journey.  She  has  evidently  lost  flesh  in  the 
stable  at  New  York,  and  by  her  appearance  have  no  doubt  that 
Barnes  is  a  rascal ;  has  neither  given  her  hay  nor  oats,  as  he 
ought,  and  probably  used  her  every  day.  Bill,  Is.  4tZ.  Went 
on,  although  it  is  now  dark,  to  Guion's,  East  Chester,  where  I 
lodged,  twenty  miles  from  New  York. 

Saturday,  July  28.  Set  out  very  early  this  morning.  I  paid 
particular  attention  to  my  horse  last  night,  in  seeing  her  fed 
with  ten  quarts  of  oats,  and  well  supplied  with  good  hay.  Or- 
dered oats  to  be  put  in  soak  last  night,  Avith  which  I  ordered 
her  fed  this  Tnorning.     Bill,  4s. 

Breakfasted  at  Mrs.  Horton's,  in  Marrinack.  She  is  a 
sprightly,  dressy  widow,  keeps  a  fine  house,  and  most  cer- 
tainly suffers  for  the  want  of  a  likely  husband.  Seven  miles 
from  East  Chester.  Bill,  2s.  Id.  Sloops  lay  almost  along- 
side the  doors  of  this  tavern.  My  next,  stage  Naps — oated. 
Bill,  Is.  Went  on  to  Young's,  between  Stanford  and  Nor- 
walk,  where  I  dined.  By  the  most  careful  attention  to  my 
horse,  found  her  spirits  recruited.  Bill,  2s.  7c?.,  York  cur- 
rency. Made  my  next  stage  at  Wentworth's,  in  Norwalk,  and 
was  obliged  to  get  my  horse  shod  before.  It  now  rained  ex- 
ceedingly hard.  It  was  determined  to  go  on  to  Fairfield. 
Bill,  lOd.     Horseshoeing,  Is.  2d.  L.  money.     It  continued   to 


310  Lif^  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

rain  very  hard,  and  when  night  came  on  it  was  excessive  dark. 
/^  I  repented  my  attempt  to  get  on  to  Fairfield,  but  could  find  no 
tavern  on  the  road.     At  length  I  came  to  a  large  river,  which 
convinced  me  that  I  must  be  out  of  my  way.     I  was  uncer- 
tain whether  the   road  passed  through  it  (for  there  was  no 
bridge),  and  therefore  did  not  dare  to  attempt  to  ford  it.     I 
found  there  was  somewhat   of  a  road  along  the  bank,  and  I 
was  determined  to  stop  at  the  next  house   I  found,  let  it  be 
whose  or  what  it  might.     In  about  a  mile  I  came  to  a  house, 
and  was  not  a  little  rejoiced,  when  I  came  up,  to  find  it  had 
a  sign  and  a  shed.     There  was  no  licfht,  but  I  soon   attacked 
the  door  with  hearty  thumps,  which  seemed  to  resound  through 
the  house.     Nobody  said  any  thing,  nor  made  any  muster.     I 
paid  on  the  harder,  and  then  began  to  halloo.     At  length  I 
heard    persons    whispering    in    the    house,  which    convinced 
me  it  was   not  void   of  inhabitants.     I   then   begged   them  to 
permit  me  come  to  in,  for  I  had  lost  my  way,  and  was  exceed- 
ingly wet  and  fatigued.     A  man  came   to  the   door,  and  told 
me  he  could  not  possibly  lodge  me,  for  he  had  only  one  bed  in 
the  house,  no  hay,  nor  any  grass  better  than  the  highway.     I 
related  my  situation,  begged  him  to  let  me  sleep  on  the  floor, 
for  I  could  go  no  further.     He  said  he  would  consent  to  my 
tarrying  if  I  could  go  no  further,  but  said  he  had  nothing  for 
my  horse  ;  there  was  only  himself  and  his  wife  in   the  house  ; 
they  had  no  bed  of  any  kind,  except  a  very  poor  one,   on 
which  they  lodged  ;  that  he  did  not  pretend  to  keep  a  tavern* 
had  just  come  into  the  house,  and  the  old  sign  liad  not  been 
taken  down.     He  said,  however,  he  could  put  me  in  the  way 
to  Fairfield,  only  two  miles,  where  I  could  lodge  comfortably. 
I  now  began  to  think  my  situation  abroad  was  nearly  as  good 
as  my  landlord's  in   his   old  house.     He  conducted  me  down 
to  the  river,  where  I  forded  it,  and  went  on  to  Fairfield.  About 
twelve  o'clock   arrived   at  Nichole's,  a  very  good  house,  and 
called  him  out  of  bed.     He  was  very  obliging,  took  good  care 
of  my  horse,  and  furnished  me  Avith  an  excellent  bed.     I  now 
began  to  bless  my  stars  that  I  did  not  stop  at  the  house,  where 
I  must  have  lodged  on  the  floor. 

I  rode  this  day  fifty-two  miles,  and  found  my  horse  in  much 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  311 

better  spirits  when  I  came  up  to  this  house  than  at  the  stage 
where  I  lodged  last  night. 

Sunday,  July  29.  Rode  to  Stratford.  Ferriage  a:t  North 
Field,  Is.  Breakfasted  at  Blackleach's.  Sent  for  my  class- 
mate, Walker,  and  attended  meeting  with  him.  Mr.  Stibbons, 
the  minister  of  the  parish,  preached.  Mr.  Walker  insisted  on 
sending  for  him  that  he  might  invite  me  to  preach;  but  I  as- 
sured him  I  must  decline  if  he  did,  for  I  was  on  a  journey 
which  I  was  obliged  to  press  Avith  all  possible  expedition,  and 
was  too  much  fatigued  to  think  of  preaching. 

Dined  with  Mi-.  Walker,  and  set  out  immediately  for  Strat- 
ford. Bill  at  Blackleach's,  '2s.  8d.  Ferriage  at  Stratford 
ferry,  2.s.  Barber,  Is.  Arrived  at  Stratford  just  as  the  bell 
began  to  ring.  Put  up  my  horse  at  Glinney's,  next  door  to 
the  Meeting  House,  My  classmate,  Buckingham,  saw  me  as 
I  rode  up.  He  came  to  me,  and  told  me  Mr.  Lockwood  was 
just  gone  into  the  Meeting  House,  but  he  would  conduct  me 
to  the  pulpit,  and  begged  I  would  preach  for  him.  I  excused 
myself,  and  insisted  on  the  favor  of  taking  a  seat  with  him. 
He  conducted  me  into  his  pew,  which  was  not  far  from  the 
pulpit,  while  Mr.  Lockwood  was  reading  the  Psalm.  As  soon 
as  he^had  done  (I  took  care  not  to  look  toward  him),  but  per- 
ceived a  shuffling  of  his  feet,  and,  casting  my  eye  up,  found 
he  was  making  signs,  but  I  was  determined  not  to  understand 
nor  to  regard  him.  He  made  such  a  fuss  that  I  expected  he 
would  come  down  to  the  pew,  which  he  told  me  afterward  he 
was  about  to  do,  but  finding  I  was  determined  not  to  regard 
him,  and  apprehending  I  might  have  no  notes  in  my  pocket, 
he  concluded  it  would  be  in  vain.  He  did  not  fail,  however,  to 
give  me  a  pretty  smart  scolding  after  meeting.  This  is  a  very 
large  assembly ;  there  are  two  tiers  of  galleries,  and  the  house 
was  very  full.  The  congregation  appeared  exceedingly  well. 
Mr.  Lockwood  gave  us  a  very  pretty  sermon.  I  am  pleased 
to  find  that  the  reading  the  Scriptures  as  a  part  of  public 
worship  is  universally  practiced  in  this  part  of  the  country, 
which  formerly  was  not  the  case.  The  giving  a  general  ex- 
planation of  the  passage  read  is  practiced  in  Connecticut  as 
well  as  New  York.  This  -struck  my  mind  so  agreeably  while 
I  was   in   New  York,  and   particularly  Mr.  Stibbons'  mode   of 


312  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

explaining,  at  Stratford,  that  I  am  determined  to  make  the 
attempt  myself  when  I  return.  It  certainly  will  be  attended 
with  very  little  difficulty,  and  will  be  easy  and  familiar  after  a 
little  practice.  Besides,  it  must  tend  to  give  both  a  minister 
and  people  a  clear  understanding,  and  impress  on  tBeir  minds 
the  general  sense  of  the  passages  read  in  public  worship. 
After  meeting,  Mr.  Lockwood  insisted  that  we  should  take 
tea  with  him,  but  Esquire  Buckingham  urged  exceedingly 
that  we  should  go  to  his  house — however,  he  finally  consented 
to  go  with  Lockwood.  We  spent  a  couple  of  hours  very 
agreeably.  I  then  took  my  leave,  though  not  without  being 
exceedingly  importuned  to  tarry  the  night.  But  I  assured 
them  the  reason  of  my  riding  at  all  on  Sunday  was  the  abso- 
lute necessity  of  reaching  home  that  week,  which  I  could  not 
possibly  do  unless  I  Avent  as  far  as  New  Haven  that  night. 

Rode  to  New  Haven,  nine  miles  ;  put  up  at  Atwater's  tav- 
ern, near  College,  and  spent  the  evening  with  President  Stiles. 
I  was  received  very  cordially,  and  much  urged  to  take  a  bed ; 
but  as  I  had  engaged  one  at  the  tavern,  I  preferred  lodging 
where  my  baggage  was.  The  Tutors  were  at  the  President's, 
and  Mr.  Whittlesey,  a  gentleman  of  the  law,  son  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Whittlesey,  a  minister  at  the  Old  Brick  in  this  city,  and 
whom  I  saAV  well  when  I  went  on  to  New  York,  but  had  been, 
the  week  past,  laid  in  his  grave.  Young  Mr.  Whittlesey  was 
going  on  to  Middletown  the  next  morning,  and  proposed  going 
in  company  with  me.  I  supped  at  Dr.  Stiles',  and  spent  the 
evening  very,  agreeably. 

Monday.,  July  30.  Breakfasted  at  Dr.  Stiles',  and  was  not 
able  to  take  my  leave  until  between  nine  and  ten.  I  had 
brought  a  packet  to  the  Doctor  from  Dr.  Franklin,  with  which 
he  was  exceedingly  pleased,  particularly  Avith  a  copy  of  the 
same  letter  Dr.  Stiles  had  sent  him  inclosed  in  it.  Dr. 
Franklin  had  desired  him  to  compare  them,  and  sec  if  there 
was  a  letter,  or  stroke,  or  point  of  the  pen  tliat  did  not  per- 
fectly correspond,  and  assured  him  that  he  had  made  out  that 
copy  in  less  than  half  a  minute.  Dr.  Stiles  w-as  exceedingly 
puzzled ;  he  kncAv  not  hoAV  to  account  for  it.  At  length  I 
gave  him  an  explanation  of  the  mystery,  Avhich  Dr.  Franklin 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  313 

had  purposely  omitted,  and  described  to  him  the  Docter's  pro- 
cess for  copying  letters.     My  bill  at  Atwater's,  2s.  lOt?. 

Mr.  Whittlesey  called,  and  waited  a  long  time  before  I  could 
get  away.  He  was  on  horseback,  but  we  could  converse  very 
well,  and  I  found  him  an  agreeable  companion.  A  sister  of 
his,  who  was  married  to  a  gentleman  in  Middletown,  and  a 
little  brother,  were  gone  on  in  a  chaise,  which  we  overtook  in 
North  Haven.  We  made  our  first  stage  at  Wallingford.  Mr. 
Whittlesey  and  his  sister  dined  at  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dana's,  their 
uncle,  where  I  called  for  them  after  dinner.  They  urged  me 
to  go  with  them  ;  but,  being  unacquainted  with  the  Doctor, 
chose  to  dine  at  the  tavern.  Hall's,  a  very  good  house.  Bill, 
2s.  lOc^.  When  Mr.  Whittlesey's  sister  saw  me,  she  imme- 
diately claimed  an  old  acquaintance,  which  I  had  entirely  for- 
gotten. When  she  came  to  mention  a  number  of  parties  in 
which  we  were  in  company,  I  had  some  faint  recollection. 
How  does  time  obliterate  the  remembrance  of  old  acquaint- 
ances !  She  blamed  me  much  for  not  calling  on  Miss  Arnold, 
who  was  then  about  to  sail  for  England,  and  assured  me  she 
had  not  forgotten  our  old  acquaintance,  and  believed  she  never 
would.  I  should  have  called  upon  her,  if  my  time  in  New 
Haven  had  permitted.  We  ai-rived  at  Middletown  about  sun- 
set. Mr.  Whittlesey  Avas  going  on  to  Tolland  the  next  day, 
through  which  town  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  pass  in  my  way 
to  Stafford,  where  my  sister  lives,  and  whom  I  was  determined 
to  see  in  my  return.  I  promised  to  call  for  him  next  morn- 
ing, and  went  on  to  General  Parsons'. 

When  I  had  informed  General  Parsons  of  my  negotiations 
with  Congress,  I  had  the  pleasure  to  find  it  not  only  met  his 
approbation,  but  he  expressed  his  astonishment  that  I  had  ob- 
tained terms  so  advantageous,  which,  he  said,  were  far  beyond 
his  expectations.  He  assured  me  that  he  preferred  the  ap- 
pointment of  first  Judge  to  that  of  Governor,  especially  if 
General  St.  Clair  was  the  Governor.  He  proposed  writing  to 
General  St.  .Clair  and  his  friends  in  Congress,  that  they  would 
procure  me  an  appointment  on  the  same  bench ;  but  I  abso- 
lutely declined,  assuring  him  that  I  had  no  wish  to  go  into  the 
civil  line.  Mrs.  Parsons  was  exceedingly  complaisant.  She 
said  they  looked  hard  for  me  on  Saturday  night,  and  that  it 


314  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

was  hoped  that  I  should  preach  for  them  yesterday,  especially 
as  Mr.  Huntington  was  gone  to  Windham,  where  his  wife  had 
been  taken  sick  while  she  was  on  a  visit  to  her  friends,  and 
that  the  people  were  much  disappointed  at  my  not  coming. 
We  spent  a  very  long  and  an  agreeable  evening,  for  we  did  not 
go  to  bed  until  half-after  one.  I  wrote  in  the  evening  several 
letters  to  New  York. 

Tuesday,  July  31.  It  was  my  intention  to  set  out  very 
early  this  morning,  but  could  not  get  away  until  after  9  o'clock. 
Called  on  Mr.  Whittlesey,  who  had  repeatedly  sent  to  know  if 
I  was  going  on.  Made  our  first  stage  at  Hartford.  Called 
one  minute  on  my  classmate  Bull.  Should  have  called  on 
Colonel  Wyllys.  but  was  certain  if  I  did  I  should  not  be  able 
to  get  away  from  him.  Mr.  Strong,  the  minister  of  the  North 
Church,  hearing  I  was  in  town,  sent  a  billet  to  me  and  Mr.  W., 
inviting  us  to  dine,  with  which  we  complied.  Mr.  Strong  said 
he  had  had  no  personal  acquaintance,  but  he  had  had  a  very 
good  hearsay  acquaintance,  and  wanted  much  to  converse  on 
the  subject  of  Meteorological  observation,  which  he  had  at- 
tempted for  some  years,  but  was  at  a  loss  to  know  how  I  had 
ascertained  the  quantity  of  rain  and  snow.  Mr.  Strong  is  one 
of  the  first  literarv  characters  in  Connecticut,  and  seems  to  be 
possessed  of  a  truly  philosophic  mind.  Here  I  met  again 
with  Miss  Channing,  who  was  at  Dr.  Stiles'  when  I  went  on  to 
New  York.  Bill  at  the  sign  of  the  Bull,  Is.  4c^.;  horseshoeing, 
8cL,  for  I  had  the  same  shoe  new  set  by  the  man  who  had  shod 
my  horse  so  Avell  when  she  was  lame,  as  I  went  on  to  New 
York. 

As  soon  as  we  had  got  into  East  Hartford,  we  left  the  road 
I  came  in  from  Killingly.  I  called  on  Miss  Williams,  daughter 
of  Professor  Williams,  at  Cambridge,  by  his  particular  request, 
to  receive  her  commands  to  Cambridge.  She 'is  at  Dr.  Will- 
iams', the  minister  of  this  town,  and  a  distant  relation ;  but  I 
did  not  get  out  of  my  carriage.  Our  next  stage  Buckland  ; 
E.  Hartford  six  miles ;  bill,  4cZ.;  miserable  house.  We  oated 
again  at  another  wretched  tavern ;  eight  miles.  A  little  after 
sunset,  arrived  at  Tolland,  eiglft  miles  further.  Put  up  at  a 
tavern  near  the  Court-house,  where  I  took  my  leave  of  Mr. 
Whittlesey.     This  is  a  pretty  good  house. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  315 

Wednesday,  August  1.  My  bill  3s.  Set  out  as  soon  as  it 
was  light  in  the  morning,  and  arrived  at  Brother  Lee's  about 
nine ;  road  wretched  bad.  Called  on  Mr.  Foster,  the  minister 
of  West  Parish  in  Stafford,  and  brother-in-law  to  Mr.  Brown, 
of  Ipswich  Hamlet.  Brother  Lee  lives  on  a  hill,  Avhich  is  very 
high,  and  the  soil  good,  but  it  is  abominably  rocky.  I  was 
obliged  to  get  out  of  my  carriage  and  lead  my  horse,  at  some 
distance  from  his  house.  As  I  was  passing  up  the  hill,  I  heard 
a  man  cry  out,  in  a  field  of  wheat  just  behind  me,  "  What 
Irishman  can  that  be  !"  As  I  turned  about  to  see  who  it  was 
that  took  me  for  an  Irishman,  he  burst  out  a-laughing.  I 
did  not  at  first  know  him  ;  but  coming  directly  to  me,  found  it 
to  be  Brother  Lee,  who  knew  me  before  he  spoke,  but  declared 
when  he  first  saw  me,  he  supposed  me  to  be  an  Irish  peddler. 
I  had  not  seen  him  or  my  sister  for  fourteen  years.  When  we 
came  to  the  house,  my  sister  did  not  know  me  for  some  time, 
but  as  soon  as  she  recollected  me,  burst  into  tears,  and  could 
not  for  a  long  time  compose  herself.  She  has  lost  her  fore- 
teeth, which  used  to  be  very  fine,  by  which  her  countenance  is 
so  much  altered  that  I  should  not  have  known  her,  though  I 
was  surprised  to  find,  as  she  is  four  years  older  than  myself, 
that  she  had  so  young  a  look,  and  had  lost  no  more  of  her  ap- 
pearance in  youth.  They  have  only  one  child  living,  a  daugh- 
ter, about  nineteen  years  of  age,  but  is  married  and  has  two 
children.  Her  husband  lives  near  them,  their  farms  joining  to 
each  other.  I  was  happy  to  find  them  in  very  agreeable  circum- 
stances ;  but  it  is  an  odious  part  of  the  Globe  to  live  in,  for, 
though  the  land  is  high,  yet  it  is  exceedingly  broken  and  hilly 
in  every  direction.  The  growth  is  chestnut,  and  the  soil  pro- 
duces excellent  wheat,  of  which  Brother  Lee  had  an  excellent 
crop.  Immediately  after  dinner,  I  was  obliged  to  take  my 
leave,  which  my  sister  complained  of  as  extremely  cruel,  as  we 
had  not  seen  each  other  for  so  long  a  time,  and  probably  might 
never  meet  again  in  this  world ;  but  I  was  so  circumstanced 
that  it  Avas  unavoidable.     This  is  eleven  miles  from  Tolland. 

Made  my  first  stage  at  Gay's,  Avho  was  a  Killingly  man,  and 
one  of  my  old  acquaintance.  Bill,  5c?.  Six  miles  from  my 
brother's,  and  the  road  awful  indeed.  Five  miles  farther  is 
the  famous  Stafford    Spring,  which  Avas  about  half  a  mile  out 


316  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

of  the  road  I  was  traveling,  but  I  was  determined  to  see  it. 
The  spring  is  on  the  northern  side  of  the  sloping  hill,  of  con- 
siderable height,  and  issues  from  under  a  large  rock  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill  and  near  the  bank  of  a  considerable  river.  The 
diameter  of  the  spring  is  somewhat  larger  than  a  pail,  and 
about  two  feet  deep  ;  a  small  stream  runs  from  the  spring  to 
the  river,  about  three  rods,  but  in  its  way  passes  through  part  of 
a  pretty  large  house,  which  has  been  erected  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  people  who  come  here  for  the  benefit  of  the 
waters.  In  the  house  is  a  large  vat  for  bathing.  I  drank 
freely  of  the  waters,  which  had  to  me  a  disagreeable  taste. 
Having  had  for  two  or  three  days  past  somewhat  of  an  in- 
flammation in  the  eye-lashes  of  one  of  my  eyes,  and  which  had 
been  this  day  much  increased  and  very  troublesome,  I  thought 
I  would  make  an  experiment  of  these  waters,  and  washed  my 
eye  a  number  of  times  while  I  tarried.  The  inflammation  in  a 
few  hours  began  to  abate,  and  by  the  next  morning  was  en- 
tirely gone.  This  was  an  evidence  of  their  being  considerably 
astringent.  There  were  three  patients  here,  two  women  and 
a  boy.  One,  a  woman,  was  every  summer  attacked  with  an 
erysipelas,  which  was  universal.  By  making  free  use  of  these 
waters  four  years  ago  she  found  immediate  benefit,  and  had 
been  free  from  it  the  three  last  summers,  but  this  summer  it 
had  returned.  She  appeared  to  be  in  a  shocking  condition, 
but  said  she  was  growing  better  every  day.  The  other  woman 
was  subject  to  violent  rheumatic  pains,  and  the  lad  had  ulce- 
rated swellings  in  one  of  his  legs  and  thighs,  in  consequence 
of  a  broken  bone.  They  had  been  here  only  a  short  time, 
and  could  say  nothing  of  the  eff"ects  of  the  waters.  By 
analyzing  these  waters  it  has  been  found  that  they  are  in  some 
degree  chalybeate,  but  the  basis  is  sulphur.  Bill  at  Spring,  Ad. 
In  my  way  from  the  Spring,  passed  through  the  other  parish 
in  Stafford,  but  did  not  go  by  way  of  the  Meeting  House. 
"Went  on  to  Willington  and  lodged,  twelve  miles  from  the 
Spring.  Rode  thirty-four  miles  to-day,  and  some  of  the  way 
was  as  bad  as  can  well  be  conceived.  This  tavern  is  kept  by 
Fuller,  a  rich  old  farmer,  who  lives  himself  on  bread  and 
milk,  but  his  house  is  full  of  every  thing  a  farm  produce's. 
They  gave  me  a  good  dish  of  green  tea,  and  loaded  the  table 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  317 

with  toast,  apple  pies,  biscuit,  butter,  and   most  excellent  old 
cheese.     And  the  old  landlady  was  very  attentive  and  obliging 
indeed.     Their  beds  I  found,  however,  were   none  of  the  best. 
Tkursday,  August  2.     My  horse  was  in   the   carriage  just 
after  day-break.     She    had    fared    exceedingly  well    the   last 
nio-ht.     Bill,  2s.  4c?.     Went  on  to  Ashford,  seven  miles,  where 
I  came  into  the  road,  in  which   I  went  on  to  Hartford.     In 
this  crooked  route  I   had    been    almost    incessantly  crossing 
and  passing  from  one  road  to  another,  but  when  I  came  into 
this  road  I  was   doubtful  (as  the  road  I  was  in  crossed  it  at 
rio-ht-anffles)  whether  I  should  take  it  or  keep  on  the  course 
I  was  traveling.     And  so  great  was  my  uncertainty,  that  when 
I  came  up  to  it  I  concluded  it  was  not  the  Hartford  road, 
and  proposed  to  keep  on  in  the  road  I  was  traveling,  but  my 
horse,  the  moment  I  came  into  the  road,  took  the  reins,  turned 
short,  and  set  out  in  a  much  quicker  pace  toward  Killingly. 
I  attempted  to   keep  her  on  the  way  I  was  traveling,  but  she 
seemed  absolutely  to  refuse   traveling  that  road  any  further. 
This  was  so  striking  an  evidence  that  she  knew  the  road,  that 
I  determined  to  try  whether  she  was  right  or  not,  though  I 
was  still  very  doubtful  myself.     In    about  a  mile  I  came  in 
sight  of  the  Meeting  House,  and  then  knew  I  was  right.    How 
astonishing   the  sagacity  of  horses  in  matters   of  this  kind ! 
This  was  the  most  remarkable  I  ever  knew  or  heard  of,  for  my 
horse  was  never  in  this  part  of  the  country,  only  as  I  went 
on  near  six  weeks  ago,  and  had  been  traveling  near  eight  hun- 
dred miles,  and  been  out  of  this  road  for  more  than  thirty  in 
my  return.     I  went  on  to  Judge  Randal's,  and  breakfasted, 
seven  miles  further.     I  had  now  traveled,  since  I  left  Hart- 
ford, seventy-six    miles,  and  only  seven  of  it  in  the  road  I 
went  on.     The  good  old  Judge  appeared  to  be  very  glad  to 
see  me,  and  was  as  handy  as  ever  ill  taking  care  of  ray  horse. 
The  old   lady  seemed  to  be    a   little  more  complaisant  than 
when  I  went  on.     We  ha'l  another  fine  dish  of  politics.     He 
insisted  upon  my  going  on  the  hill,  and  taking  a  view  of  his 
farm,  which  is  certainly  a  grand   one  indeed.     He  has  four 
hundred  acres  of  excellent  land,  and  the  most  of  it  under  im- 
provement.    I  delivered    him    a   long  lecture   on  husbandry, 
which  seemed  to  touch  him  in  the  right  spot,  but  he  said  he 


318  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

was  too  old  to  attend  to  it.  But  he  thought  he  should  attend 
to  my  advice  in  keeping  more  cows,  for  he  said  he  could 
summer  and  winter  thirty  or  forty  very  well,  but  he  now 
keeps  but  eight  or  nine.  Bill,  Is.  4d.  Arrived  at  my  father's 
about  two  o'clock.  Visited  Mr.  Atkins  and  several  of  my  old 
friends. 

Friday,  August  3.  Set  out  very  early  this  morning  for 
Dedham.  Ephraim,  having  business  at  Gloucester,  went  with 
me  as  far  as  Captain  Olney's.  Bill,  8(i.  Took  my  leave  of 
him,  and  went  on  to  the  Widow  Arnold's,  in  Smithfield.  As 
I  had  sent  Mrs.  Arnold  a  number  of  seeds  and  bulbous  roots, 
she  expressed  great  satisfaction  at  seeing  me,  and  refused  pay 
for  my  refreshment.  Dined  at  Metcalfs,  in  Franklin,  a  miser- 
able tavern  ;  bill,  Is.  8tZ.  My  next  stage  at  Headen's,  in  Wal- 
pole.  Arrived  at  Mr.  Chickering's  a  little  before  daylight  in, 
where  I  was  so  happy  as  to  find  Mrs.  Cutler  and  Charles,  and 
to  hear  that  our  family  was  well.  Brother  Dean  and  Sister 
and  several  of  the  neighbors  spent  the  evening  with  us. 

Saturday,  August  4.  It  was  very  late  this  morning  before 
we  were  able  to  set  out  for  home,  and  the  Aveather  exceedingly 
hot,  as  it  had  been  several  days  past.  We  came  on  slowly. 
Was  obliged  to  have  my  horse  shod  in  Roxbury.  We  dined  at 
Mr.  Williams'.  Here  I  had  so  many  people  to  see,  that  we 
were  not  able  to  leave  the  town  until  nearly  6  o'clock.  We 
did  not  arrive  home  until  half-past  twelve  o'clock  at  night. 

Thus  I  completed  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  agreeable 
journeys  I  ever  made  in  my  life.  It  had  in  every  view  been 
prosperous,  but  in  many  respects  infinitely  exceeded  my  ex- 
pectations. The  large  and  very  respectable  acquaintance  that 
I  formed  on  this  journey  I  must  consider  as  a  valuable  acqui- 
sition, and  may  probably  have  reason  to  consider  it  as  one  of 
the  most  happy  events  of  my  life.  In  this  journey,  I  have 
rode,  according  to  the  account  I  have  entered  in  this  journal, 
which  I  believe  to  be  very  accurate,  885  miles.  Besides  these 
minutes,  I  examined  a  very  great  number  of  new  plants,  for  I 
had  the  whole  of  my  botanical  apparatus  with  me.  These  I 
inserted  in  my  botanical  journal. 

[After  his  return  from  New  York,  Dr.  Cutler  was  much  oc- 
cupied with  the  affairs  of  the  Ohio  Company.] 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  319 

Aug.  29,  Wed.  Went  to  Boston,  and  attended  a  meeting  of 
the  Ohio  Company.  Made  a  report  of  the  purchase  of  the 
land  from  Congress,  which  was  approved  and  confirmed.  [The 
following  extract  from  the  records  of  the  Ohio  Company 
gives  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  in  full :] 

August  29,  1787. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Directors  and  Agents  of  the  Ohio 
Company,  held  at  the  Bunch  of  Grapes  Tavern,  in  Boston, 
the  following  Report  was  received  from  the  Rev.  Manasseh 
Cutler : 

That,  in  consequence  of  the  resolves  of  Congress  of  the  23d 
and  27th  of  July  last,  he  agreed  on  the  conditions  of  a  con- 
tract with  the  Board  of  Treasury  of  the  United  States  for  a 
particular  tract  of  land,  containing  in  the  whole  as  much  as 
the  Company's  funds  will  pay  for,  should  the  subscriptions 
amount  to  one  million  of  dollars,  agreeably  to  the  Articles  of 
Association,  at  one  dollar  per  acre,  from  which  price  is  to  be 
deducted  one-third  of  a  dollar  for  bad  lands,  defraying  the 
expenses  of  surveying,  etc. 

That  those  lands  be  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  western 
boundary  of  the  seventh  range  of  townships ;  south,  by  the 
Ohio  ;  west,  by  a  meridian  line  drawn  through  the  western 
Cape  of  the  Great  Kanawha  River  ;  and  extending  so  far  north 
that  a  due  east  and  west  line  from  the  seventh  range  of  town- 
ships to  the  said  meridian  line  shall  include  the  whole. 

This  tract  to  be  extended  so  far  northerly  as  to  comprehend 
within  its  limits,  exclusively  of  the  above  purchase,  one  lot  of 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  each  township,  for  the  purposes 
of  religion  ;  an  equal  quantity  for  the  support  of  schools  ;  and 
two  tow^nships,  of  twenty-three  thousand  and  forty  acres  each, 
for  a  university  (to  be  as  near  the  center  of  the  whole  tract  as 
may  be) ;  which  lots  and  townships  are  given  by  Congress  and 
appropriated  for  the  above  uses  forever.  Also,  three  lots,  of 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres  each,  in  every  township,  reserved 
for  the  future  disposition  of  Congress,  and  the  bounty  lands 
of  the  military  associators  to  be  comprised  within  the  whole 
tract,  provided  they  do  not  exceed  one-seventh  part  thereof. 


320  Life  of  Rev.  Mananseh  Cutler. 

That  five  huncli-ed  thousand  dollars  be  paid  to  the  Board  of 
Treasury  upon  closing  the  contract.  In  consideration  of 
which,  a  right  of  entry  and  occupancy  for  a  quantity  of  land 
equal  to  this  sum,  at  the  price  stipulated,  be  given.  And  that, 
as  soon  as  the  Geographer,  or  some  proper  officer  of  the  United 
States,  shall  have  surveyed  and  ascertained  the  quantity  of  the 
whole,  the  sum  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  more  be  paid, 
amounting  in  the  total  to  one  million  of  dollars,  for  which  the 
Company  are  to  be  put  in  possession  of  the  other  moiety  of 
the  lands  above  described,  and  receive  a  deed  of  the  whole 
from  the  said  Board  of  Treasury. 

Whereupon,  Resolved,  That  the  above  report  be  received, 
and  the  proceedings  of  Mr.  Cutler  be  fully  approved,  ratified, 
and  confirmed. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock,  to  convene 
at  Mr.  Brackett's  tavern. 

August  30.  Met  according  to  adjournment,  and  continued 
until  the  first  of  September,  during  which  time  the  following 
resolutions  were  agreed  to  : 

That  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
near  the  confluence  of  the  Muskingum  and  Ohio  Rivers,  be 
reserved  for  a  City  and  Commons. 

That  within  the  said  tract,  and  in  the  most  eligible  situa- 
tion, there  be  appropriated  for  a  City  sixty  squares,  of  three 
hundred  and  sixty  feet  by  three  hundred  and  sixty  feet 
each;  in  an  oblong  form,  of  ten  squares  in  front  and  six 
in  depth,  with  streets  one  hundred  feet  in  width  through  each 
range. 

That  four  of  said  squares  be  reserved  for  public  uses,  and 
the  remaining  fifty-six  be  divided  into  house  lots.  That  each 
square  contain  twelve  house -lots,  of  sixty  feet  front  and  one 
hundred  feet  depth,  and  six  lots  of  fifty-three  and  three-tenths 
feet  by  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet,  amounting  in  the  total  to 
one  thousand  and  eight  lots.  And  that  this  plan  be  pursued 
as  nearly  as  the  situation  of  the  ground  will  admit ;  and  when 
the  same  is  completed,  a  plat  thereof,  with  the  lots  numbered 
thereon,  be  transmitted  to  the  Secretary,  who  shall  notify  a 
meeting  of  the  Agents  for  the   purpose  of  drawing   the  said 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  821 

City  lots — one  of  -svliich  shall  be  annexed  to,  and  become  a 
part  of,  each  proprietary  share. 

That  contiguous  to,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  above  tract, 
there  be  laid  off  one  thousand  lots,  of  sixty-four  acres  each, 
as  equal  as  possible  in  quality  and  situation,  one  of  •which,  as 
the  city  lots,  shall  bo  considered  a  part  of  each  proprietary 
share,  and  be  drawn  for  in  the  same  manner;  and  that  a  com- 
plete survey  and  return  of  these  lots  be  made  by  the  first  of 
March  next,  to  the  Secretary's  office. 

That,  for  the  reception  and  protection  of  settlers,  one  hun- 
dred houses,  of  thirty-six  by  sixteen  feet,  be  erected,  in  the 
course  of  the  ensuing  autumn  and  winter,  on  three  sides  of 
the  before  mentioned  oblong  square,  and  connected  by  a 
stockade. 

That,  in  order  'to  carry  into  execution  the  above  purposes, 
it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  subscribers  pay  into  the 
hands  of  their  several  Agents  the  money  subscribed,  that  the 
same  may  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  by  the  4th 
of  October  next,  which  payment  the  agents  are  to  make  to  the 
Treasurer  accordinglv. 

That,  as  saw-mills  and  corn-mills  will  be  necessary,  in  for- 
warding the  settlement,  proposals  from  any  of  the  subscribers 
for  erecting  one  or  more  of  each  kind,  without  expense  to  the 
proprietors,  will  be  received  by  either  of  the  Directors,  the 
Treasurer,  or  at  the  Secretary's  office,  and  such  proposals  will 
be  decided  upon  as  soon  as  may  be  after  the  completion  of  the 
contract  Avith  the  Treasury  Board. 

And,  that  the  manner  of  removing  the  first  settlers,  and 
superintending  their  operations,  will  be  agreed  upon  as  soon 
as  practicable. 

Resolved,  That  General  James  M.  Varnum  *  be  one  of  the 


*James  M.  Varnum,  born  in  Dracut,  Mass.,  1748.  Graduated  at 
Rhode  Island  College.  Admitted  to  the  bar  at  twenty-two;  he  was  a 
Colonel  in  the  army  at  twenty-six;  a  Brigadier-General  at  twenty-eight; 
resigned  his  commission,  and  was  elected  to  Congress  at  thirty-one; 
appointed  judge,  and  emigrated  to  the  west  at  thirty-nine;  and  died 
at  forty  (on  the  10th  day  of  January,  1789). — Mag.  Am.  Hist.  (Septem- 
ber, JS87). 

21 


322  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Directors  of  the   Oliio   Company,  and  that   Colonel  Richard 
Piatt -'^  be  the  Treasurer. 

A  true  copy  from  the  journals. 

WiNTiiROP  Sargent,  Se&y. 

Avg.  31,  Fri.  Met  again  at  Bracket's.  Determined  to 
send  men  this  fall  into  the  Ohio  country. 

Sept.  1,  Sat.  Met  again  in  the  morning.  P.  M.  returned 
home. 

Sept.  10-15.     House  full  of  Ohio  people  all  the  week. 

Sept.  21,  22.     Ohio  people  here.     Jervis  Avent  to  Dedham. 

Sept.  24-29.     Much  engaged  in  the  Ohio  matters. 

Oct..  1,  2.     Taking  money  for  the  Ohio  Company. 

Monday,  Oct.  8.     Left  Ipswich  for  New  York,  in  order  to 


*  Richard  Piatt,  great-grandson  of  Epenetus  Piatt,  a  settler  of  Hunt- 
ington, Suffolk  Co.,  N.  y.,  in  1672,  and  the  son  of  Jonas  and  Temper- 
ance Piatt,  was  born  there  in  1754.  At  twenty- -one,  he  began  farming 
at  Smithfield,  Long  Island.  On  June  2(S,  1775,  he  was  commissiont-d 
Second  Lieutenant  in  McDougall's  regiment,  and  accompanied  it  to 
Canada.  He  was  present  at  the  capture  of  Montreal,  and,  as  Adjutant- 
General,  was  given  by  Montgomery  the  preparing  for  the  attack  on 
Quebec,  in  which  that  officer  fell.  On  21st  November,  1776,  he  was  np- 
pointed  a  Captain  in  Colonel  Philip  Van  Cortland's  regiment,  the 
Second  New  York.  He  was  Aid  to  McDougall  prior  to  and  at  the 
battle  of  White  Plains.  On  24th  October,  1780,  Piatt  was  appointed 
Deputy  Quartermaster-General  of  Washington's  army;  was  at  the  sur- 
render of  Cornwallis,  in  1781,  and  remained  in  the  army  until  it  was 
disbanded,  in  1783,  when  he  received  the  rank  of  Colonel.  He  was 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  for  the  pageant  of  the 
celebration  of  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  17S7  by  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  acted  as  Grand  Marshal  on  that  occasion,  on  the  23d 
July,  1788,  although  the  New  York  Convention  did  not  really  adopt 
that  Constitution  till  thi-ee  days  afterward.  In  the  War  of  1812  he 
■was  appointed  Commissary-General  of  the  state.  He  married  Miss 
Aspinwall,  and  had  two  sons,  Richard  (died  a  bachelor),  and  Hamil- 
ton, who  married  Louisa  Sophia,  daughter  of  Captain  Thomas  Bibby, 
of  New  York,  and  left  one  child — a  son — Richard,  who  tlied  a  bachelor 
in  California  in  1849.  Colonel  Piatt  died  in  New  York,  on  March  3d, 
1830.  He  was  an  original  member  of  the  Cincinnati,  and  a  warm 
friend  of  Aaron  Burr.  He  was  engaged  in  business  with  William 
Duer,  and  was  pecuniarily  ruined  by  the  failure  of  Duer's  firm  in  1792, 
which  began  the  series  of  "great  panics"  from  which  New  York  has 
suffered. — E.  F.  de  Lancey. 


Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler.  323 

complete  the  contract  of  the  Ohio  Company  for  lands  in  the 
Western  Country.     Lodged  at  Mr.  Parsons',  Lynn. 

Tues.,  Oct.  9.  Went  on  to  Boston,  over  the  new  bridge  at 
Penny  Ferry.     Spent  the  day  in  Boston,  collecting  money. 

Wed.,  Oct.  10.     Spent  the  da}"  in  Boston  on  Ohio  business, 

Thurs.,  Oct.  11.     Spent  the  day  in  town. 

Fri.,  Oct.  12.  Left  the  town  for  New  York  by  way  of 
Providence.  Went  on  in  the  stage-coach.  First  stage  Gay's, 
Dedhani.  Called  on  Mr.  Cliickering  one  minute.  Dined  at 
Daggets',  in  Walpole,  in  company  with  Dr.  Stiles  ;  bill,  2s. 
Next  stage  Draper's,  in  Attleborough ;  bill,  4d.  Arrived  in 
Providence  at  7  o'clock,  and  took  lodgings  with  Mr.  Hitch- 
cock.'''^    Paid  Mr.  Belknap  18s.  for  magazines. 

Sat.,  Oct.  13.  Spent  the  day  Avith  Mr.  Hitchcock,  as  no 
packet  was  ready  for  N.  York ;  but  engaged  a  passage  with 
Captain  Godfrey  to  go  to-morrow  morning. 

Sunday,  Oct.  14.  Went  on  board  the  packet  Lady  Green, 
Captain  Godfrey,  at  ten  this  morning.  Wind  fair;  small. 
Mr.  Atkinson  and  family  on  board,  consisting  of  himself  and 
lady,  two  little  sons  and  one  daughter,  very  pretty  children, 
from  three  to  five  years  of  age,  and  two  maids ;  also,  Mr. 
Graves,  of  N.  York,  and  lady,  with  her  sister.  Miss  Charlotte 
Graves,  an  agreeable  young  lady,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Mr. 
Graves,  an  Episcopal  clergyman  in  Providence. 

A  very  fine  day ;  afternoon,  somewhat  of  a  sea.  The 
women  most  of  them  sea-sick.  As  we  passed  down  the  river, 
we  had  a  fair  view  of  Patuxet,  a  small  village  about  seven 
miles  from  Providence,  on  the  western  side  of  the  river.  On 
the  same  side  is  Greenwich,  which  we  saw  very  plain  ;  it  ap- 
peared like  a  compact  town,  but  small.  On  the  eastern  side, 
we  saw  Bristol  very  plain.     We  passed  the  islands  of  Prudence, 


*Kev.  Enos  Hitchcock,  D.D.,  was  a  native  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  and 
a  graduate  oF  Harvard  College,  17G7.  He  was  pastor  of  the  church  in 
wh'il  was  known  as  the  Second  Tuiish,  or  "The  Precinct  of  Salem  and 
Beverly,"  Massachusetts,  1771  to  1783;  meanwhile  serving  as  Chaplain 
in  the  American  army  during  several  campaigns,  1777  to  1780.  In 
1783  he  was  called  to  the  Congregational  church  at  Providence,  R.  1., 
where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in  1803.  See  Stone's  Historic  of 
Beverly. 


324  Life  of  Rev.  Manasscli  Cutler, 

Patience,  Hope,  and  Despair,  all  to  the  westward,  leaving 
them  between  us  and  Rhode  Island,  We  arrived  at  Newport 
before  daylight  in.  The  passage  not  very  agreeable,  as  we 
were  obliged  to  beat  all  the  afternoon,  and  considerable  sea. 
I  took  lodgings  at  Mr,  Benj,  Olney's,  a  very  good  lodging- 
house,  the  genteelcst  in  the  place. 

Mon.,   Oct.  15.     The   Avind    against    us.     Waited    on    Miss 
Polly    Stiles,    at   Mrs.    Channing's.     Rev.    Mr.    Channing 


c 


a 


young  clergyman,  son  of  Mrs.  Channing,  nnd  now  settled  at 
New  London,  walked  with  me  over  the  town  of  Newport.  We 
went  up  the  steeple  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  had  a  fine 
view  of  the  town,  which  is  laid  out  in  a  regular  form  ;  the  build- 
ings old  and  out  of  repair,  but  very  fevv'  houses  that  make  any 
tolerable  appearance.  One  street  in  front  of  the  town  is 
straight  and  about  a  mile  in  length,  makes  a  tolerable  ap- 
jDearance. 

There  are  two  Congregational  Churches,  one  Episcopal, 
three  Baptist,  and  one  Jewish  Synagogue,  which  Ave  visited. 
I  was  much  gratified  with  a  view  of  the  Synagogue.  The 
reading-desk,  the  altar  and  ark  of  the  Covenant,  the  five  books 
of  Moses  in  parchments,  rolled  and  covered  Avith  silk,  the  gar- 
ments Avith  the  fringes  Avhich  all  the  people  Avear,  and  the  phy- 
lacteries, are  curious  and  ncAv,  Judah  Avas  the  name  of  the 
JcAv  that  attended  us.  Drank  tea  at  Mrs.  Channing's,  in  com- 
pany Avith  Governor  BoAven  and  lady,  Mr.  Gibbs,  a  principal 
merchant  of  this  toAvn,  and  several  other  ijentlemen,  and  a 
brilliant  circle  of  ladies. 

Tues.,  Oct.  16.  Spent  the  day  in  listing  my  money  for 
Congress.  Governor  Bowen,  Mr.  Channing,  and  brother 
called  on  me  and  spent  part  of  the  evening.  Mr.  Atkinson 
and  I  took  a  Avalk  to  see  Malbone's  Gardens.  The  house  Avas 
burnt  a  number  of  years  ago,  but  the  garden  remains  in  toler- 
able order.  Spent  the  evening  Avith  Mr.  Bromfield,  Mr.  Bacon, 
etc.,  at  Mr.  ToAvnsend's. 

Wed.,  Oct.  17.  Still  Avind  bound.  Attended  to  my  papers. 
At  Mrs.  Channing's.  Mr.  Channing,  of  Ncav  London,  took  a 
share  in  the  Ohio  Company.  Wrote  to  Mrs.  Cutler,  by  Mr. 
Bromfield. 

Thurs.,  Oct.  18.     This  morning  the  Avind  was  so  far  hauled 


Life  of  Rev.  3Iana8seh  Cutler.  325 

to  the  northward  that  Captain  Godfrey  concluded  to  sail.  My 
bill,  22s.;  petty  expenses,  2s.  Took  my  leave  of  Mr.  Olney 
and  family,  who  were  very  agreeable.  It  is  the  best  boarding- 
house  in  Newport.  Mr.  Moore,  of  Charleston,  South  Caro- 
lina, a  boarder  in  this  house  and  an  accomplished  young  gen- 
tleman traveling  for  his  pleasure,  took  a  passage  with  us.  We 
left  Newport  at  10  o'clock.  The  same  passengers  as  before, 
with  Mr.  Moore,  made  an  agreeable  and  very  civil  company. 
Fine  breeze;  off  Fisher's  Island  at  sunset;  a  good  breeze  in 
the  night.  Women  very  sea-sick ;  Mr.  Atkinson  and  the 
Captain,  Mr.  Graves,  Mr.  Moore,  and  myself  the  only  people 
on  board  who  did  not  complain  ;  we  were  very  hearty.  We 
had  good  lodgings  in  the  cabin.  The  women  were  in  a  cabin 
by  themselves. 

Fri.,  Oct.  19.  This  morning,  we  were  off  Fairfield,  with  a 
gentle  breeze,  but  before  noon  nearly  calm,  Avhich  continued 
most  of  the  day.  Our  sick  people  nearly  recovered.  In  the 
afternoon,  we  went  on  shore  on  Long  Island  and  purchased 
some  chestnuts  and  apples.  The  people  were  Quakers,  and 
very  kind.  We  spent  the  evening  very  agreeably  in  playing 
checkers,  and  eating  a  beefsteak  introduced  by  Mr.  Moore. 

Sat.,  Od.  20.  This  morning  we  were  in  a  part  of  the  Sound 
which  is  very  narrow,  having  the  appearance  of  a  river,  and 
not  very  far  from  Hell  Gate.  On  both  sides  of  the  straits,  for 
so  they  appeared,  are  a  number  of  countr}''  seats,  very  roman- 
tic, and  among  others  is  the  seat  of  Baron  Steuben. 

At  7  o'clock,  we  passed  Hell  Gate.  It  is  really  a  curious 
place.  Although  it  was  nearly  high  water,  when  it  has  the 
least  dangerous  appearance,  it  excited  the  idea  of  very  great 
hazard  in  passing  it.  There  were  several  very  great  whirl- 
pools, a  general  boiling  of  the  water,  and  in  one  part  the  ap- 
pearance of  falls.  Our  ship  was  carried  round  with  great 
rapidity,  and  felt  very  little  of  her  helm,  but  the  people,  by 
hard  rowing,  kept  her  near  her  course.  The  length  of  this 
frightful  passage  is  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  One  poor  fel- 
low was  fast  aground  on  the  rocks.  The  most  dangerous 
places  are  the  Pot,  the  Frying-pan,  the  Gridiron,  etc. 

As  we  entered  the  harbor  of  New  York  we  saw  the  carcass 
of  the  Jersey   Prison-ship,  on  shore,  on   board   of  which   so 


326  Life  of  Rev.  3Icmasseh  Cutler. 

many  poor  Americans  drew  their  last  breath.  Their  bodies 
Avere  carried  on  shore  to  a  sand  bluff,  where  thev  were  half 
covered,  and  an  immense  number  of  human  bones  are  now  scat- 
tered along  the  beach. 

Took  lodgings,  in  company  with  Mr.  Moore,  at  Mr.  Smith's, 
No.  30  Hanover  Square.  Waited  on  the  Board  of  Treasury, 
and  several  other  gentlemen.     Passage,  39s.  L.  M. 

Sunday,  Oct.  21.  Attended  church  at  St.  George's  Chapel. 
Three  Episcopalians  were  ordained  priests  by  Bishop  Provost. 
The  Bishop  sat  at  the  altar,  one  of  the  candidates,  Mr.  Griffin, 
read  prayers,  and  Mr.  Beach  preached  a  very  good  and  very 
catholic  sermon  from  Matt. :  "  Take  heed  to  yourselves  and 
the  flock  of  God  over  whom  the  Holy  Ghost  has  made  you 
overseers."  His  design,  to  give  the  character  of  ministers, 
very  well.     The  ordination  was  solemn. 

Dined  with  Colonel  Duer,  Mr.  Flint,  and  Major  Sargent.  Not 
out  in  the  afternoon.  Supped  at  home  with  Mr.  Hatfield,  an 
English  boarder,  and  an  English  Captain  of  a  regiment  now  in 
the  West  Indies. 

3Ion.,  Oct.  22.     Attended  business  at  Colonel  Piatt's. 

Tiies.,  Oct.  23.  Ditto.  Dined  with  Sir  John  Temple,  Dr. 
Rogers,  and  others. 

Wed.,  Oct.  24.  Ditto.  Dined  with  Mr.  Atkinson,  his 
brother,  and  Mr.  Storer,  a  brother  to  Mrs.  Atkinson.  A  fine 
fish. 

Tliiirs.,  Oct.  25.  Ditto.  Dined  with  Mr.  Henderson  and 
supped  with  Mr,  Atkinson.  Mr.  Moore  went  on  to  Philadel- 
phia. 

Fri.,  Oct.  26.     Dined  with  Doctor  Lee. 

Sat.,  Oct.  27.  This  day  completed  our  contract  with  the 
Board  of  Treasury  for  near  six  millions  of  acres  of  land,  and 
Major  Sargent  and  myself  signed  the  Indented  Agreement  on 
parchment  in  two  distinct  contracts  ;  one  for  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, and  the  other  for  the  Scioto  Company.  The  greatest 
private  contract  ever  made  in  America.  Dined  with  General 
Knox.  A  very  large  company,  all  old  Continental  officers  ex- 
cept myself.  Baron  Steuben  one  of  the  number.  Purchased 
sundry  articles  in  the  morning.      Vide  bills  :  Paid   INIr.  Har- 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ia7iasseh  Cutler.  327 

rison  for  instruments,  £14.  Spent  the  evening  at  Colonel 
Piatt's  ;  supped  and  adjusted  our  Scioto  matters. 

Lord's  Day,  Oct.  28.  Dined  with  the  President  of  Con- 
gress, Mr.  R.  H.  Lee,  Mr.  U.  G.(?),  Colonel  Grayson,  General 
Erving,  Major  Giles,  Colonel  Grayson's  son,  Mr.  Dane,  and  Mr. 
Sargent. 

Mon.,  Oct.  29.  Paid  my  bill  for  board,  nine  dollars.  The 
stage-coach  called  for  me  at  four  in  the  morning  for  Boston. 
Mr.  Dane,  a  member  of  Congress,  in  company,  and  others. 
Lodged  at  Norwalk,  Connecticut. 

Tue.,  Oct.  30.  Rose  at  three  in  the  morning.  Lodged  at 
Durham. 

Wed.,  Oct.  31.  Rode  early  to  Hartford.  Stage  stopped 
one  day.  Dined  with  General  Parsons,  and  spent  the  evening 
Avith  Mr.  Barlow.* 

Thurs.,  Nov.  1.  We  rose  at  half  after  four.  Mr.  Bethuen, 
of  Boston,  in  the  stage.  Dined  at  Springfield ;  lodged  at 
Graves',  in  Palmer. 

Fri.,  Nov.  2.  Set  out  at  five  in  the  morning ;  lodged  at 
Pease's  in  Worcester,  and  called  on  Colonel  Flagg. 

Sat.,  Nov.  3.  Set  out  at  half  after  tAvo  in  the  morning ; 
dined  at  Boston.  Came  to  Salem  in  the  Salem  stage,  and  hired 
a  stage  to  come  home.     Eighty  miles  this  day  nearly. 

Lord's  Bay,  Nov.  4.     Preached.     Extremely  fatigued. 

Fri.,  Nov.  9.     Went  to  Boston  to  meet  General  Putnam. 

*  Joel  Barlow,  then  thirty-three  years  old,  had  already  achieved  dis- 
tinction in  the  pulpit  and  in  literature,  and  had  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  law  in  Hartford.  His  poem,  "TheA^ision  of  Columbus,"  had 
just  been  published  and  received  with  favor.  He  became  an  agent  for 
the  Ohio  Company,  and  obtained  a  number  of  subscribers.  In  1788  he 
went  to  France  as  agent  of  the  Scioto  Land  Company.  In  1792  he 
became  a  citizen  of  tiie  French  Kepublic.  and  was  an  unsuccessful  can- 
didate for  a  seat  in  the  National  Convention.  In  1795  he  was  appointed 
United  States  Consul  at  Aljziers.  In  ISOo  he  returned  to  America  and 
purchased  a  handsome  country-seat,  which  he  called  Kaloramii,  near 
Washington  City.  In  1811  he  was  appointed  Minister  to  France.  He 
died  in  1812  at  Zarnowioc,  Poland,  while  en  rou/e  to  Paris  from  Wilna, 
where  he  had  been  in  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  meet  the  Emperor 
Napoleon  and  conclude  a  treaty.  The  "  Life  and  Letters  of  Joel  Bar- 
low," by  Charles  Burr  Todd,  was  published  in  188(3. 


328  Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler. 

Sat.,  Nov.  10.  General  Putnam  and  I  dined  at  Mr.  Vrill- 
iams',     I  came  home, 

3Ion.,  ]\^ov.  12-14.     Ohio  people  here  the  whole  time. 

JVov.  19-20.     About  home  and  very  busy. 

Wed.,  JVov.  21.  Went  to  Boston,  Jervis*  with  me.  At- 
tended a  meetino;  of  the  Directors  and  Ao;cnts  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany  at  Brackett's  Tavern. 

Thurs.,  JVov.  22.  Directors  and  Agents  met  again.  The 
Directors  and  several  of  the  Agents  were  invited  to  dine 
with  Governor  Bowdoin.  The  Governor  was  very  complaisant 
to  the  Directors.     Several  other  gentlemen  dined  with  us. 

Fri.,  Kov.  23.     A  meeting  of  the  Directors. 

tSal.,  A^ov.  24.  The  Directors  met  again.  Jervis  and  I 
came  home. 

Mon.,  Nov.  26  ;   Tues.  27.     Much  engaged  with  Ohio  men. 


*  Jervis  Cutler,  second  son  of  Rev.  Manasseii  Cutler,  was  born  at  Ed- 
gartown,  Martha's  Vineyard,  1768.  When  but  sixteen  years  old  he 
made  a  voyage  to  France.  He  was  the  first  of  the  forty-eight  pioneers 
led  by  Rufus  Putnam  to  land  at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum.  7th 
April,  178S.  He  remained  in  the  west,  engaged  in  teaching  and  sur- 
veying, until  1790,  when  he  returned  to  Connecticut  atid  married  Miss 
Philadelphia  Cargill.  In  1S02  he  settled  in  Bainbridge.  Ohio,  as  a  fur- 
trader.  In  1806  he  was  chosen  Major  of  Colonel  McArthur'sChio  regi- 
ment. When  troops  were  called  to  go  to  New  Orleans  he  enlisted  a  com- 
pany and  was  appointed  Cajitain.  He  was  for  a  time  in  command  of  the 
jjost  at  Ne\yport,  Kentucky.  In  the  spring  of  1809  his  company  wus 
ordered  to  Xew  Orleans.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he  was  prostrated  by 
yellow-fever,  and  the  United  States  Senate  having  refused  to  confirm 
his  appointment  as  Captain,  because  of  a  charge  that  he  had  made 
speeches  attacking  the  administration,  he  returned  to  New  England. 
While  yet  an  invalid  he  prepared  and  published  a  book,  entitled,  "A 
Topographical  Description  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  Indiana  Territory,  and 
Louisiana,''  with  a  "Concise  Account  of  the  Indian  Tribes  west  of  the 
Mississippi."  In  1818  he  again  came  west,  and  finally  settled  in  busi- 
ness in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  as  an  engraver  of  plates  t'or  bank  notes.  His 
first  wife  died  in  1822.  In  1824  he  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Chandler,  of 
Evansville.  lud.  He  died  in  Evansville,  in  18 U.  His  sons  inherited 
his  roving  disposition.  One,  Charles,  a  young  man  of  much  promise, 
lost  his  life  in  the  ill-fated  expedition  of  Walker  to  Nicaragua;  another, 
Major  George  A.  Cutler,  was  prominent  as  a  free-state  man  in  the  early 
history  of  Kansas. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  329 

Fri.,  Nov.  30.  Very  much  engaged  in  packing  up  Jervis' 
things  for  the  western  counti-y. 

Sat.,  Bee.  1.  Sent  to  Danvers  the  men's  baggage,  who  are 
going  to  the  Ohio. 

Lord's  Lay,  Lee.  2.     Exchanged  with  Mr.  Swain. 

3Ion.,  Lee.  3.  This  morning  a  part  of  the  men  going  to  the 
Ohio  met  here  two  hours  before  day.  I  went  on  with  them  to 
Danvers.  The  whole  joined  at  Major  White's.  Twenty  men, 
employed  by  the  Company,  and  four  or  five  on  their  own  ex- 
pense, marched  at  eleven  o'clock.  This  party  is  commanded  by 
Major  White.*  Captain  Putnam  took  the  immediate  charge  of 
the  men,  wagons,  etc.  Jervis  went  off  in  good  spirits.  He 
is  well  fitted  for  the  journey. 

[A  reminiscence  written  by  Temple  Cutler,  Esq.,t  gives 
some  additional  particulars  of  this  event :  "  The  little  band  of 
pioneers  assembled  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Cutler,  in  Ipswich, 
Mass.,  on  the  3d  day  of  December,  1787,  and  there  took  an 
early  breakfast.  About  the  dawn  of  day  they  paraded  in 
front  of  the  house;  and,  after  a  short  address  from  him,  full 
of  good  advice  and  hearty  wishes  for  their  happiness  and  pros- 
perity— the  men  being  armed — three  volleys  were  fired,  and 
the  party  (one  of  whom  was  his  son  Jervis,  aged  19)  went 
forward,  cheered  heartily  by  the  bystanders.  Dr.  Cutler  ac- 
couipanied    them    to    Danvers,  where  he   placed  them   under 


*  HafField  Wliile,  who  commanded  this  party,  was  a  native  of  Dan- 
vers, Massachusetts.  During  the  Revolutionary  War  he  served  as  a 
Lieutenant  in  Hutchinson's  regiment  and  Captain  in  Colonel  Rufus 
Putnam's  Fifth  Masssichusetts.  He  was  in  Campus  Martins  (the  fort 
at  Marietta,  Ohio)  during  the  Indian  war,  179(J  to  17'J5.  At  its  close 
he  settled  in  Waterford,  Ohio,  where  he  died  December  13,  I  8U7. 

f  Temple  Cutler,  Dr.  Cutler's  youngest  son;  born  F'ebruary  24,  1782. 
Married,  first,  .Sophia  Brown,  in  1S()5;  second,  Mrs.  Hannah  (Aj)pleton) 
Smith,  in  1S23.  He  lived  some  years  in  Ohio,  but  returned  to  Hamil- 
ton, Mass.,  where  he  died,  November  5,  18o7,  aged  75  years.  He  was 
many  years  a  successful  teacher;  was  a  representative  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Legislature  in  I82G;  and  other  offices  conferred  upon  him 
show  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held.  He  was  much  interested 
in  agriculture,  and  his  ability  as  a  writer  is  shown  in  numerous  contri- 
butions on  that  subject  to  the  journals  of  his  day.  He  was  the  father 
of  the  late  Rev.  Rufus  P.  Cutler,  of  Portland,  Me.,  aud  of  the  Rev. 
Temple  Cutler,  of  Essex,  Mass. 


330  Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler. 

command  of  Major  Haffield  White  and  Captain  Ezra  Putnam, 
He  had  prepared  a  large  and  well-built  wagon  for  their  use, 
which  preceded  them  with  their  baggage.  This  wagon,  as  a 
protection  from  cold  and  storm,  was  covered  with  black  can- 
A'as,  and  on  the  sides  was  an  inscription  in  white  letters,  I 
think  in  these  words,  '■For  the  Ohio  at  the  Muskingum,^  which 
Dr.  Cutler  painted  with  his  own  hand. 

"Although  I  Avas  theai  but  six  years  old,  I  have  a  vivid 
recollection  of  all  these  circumstances,  having  seen*  the  prepa- 
rations, and  heard  the  conversation  relative  to  this  undertak- 
ing. I  think  the  weather  was  pleasant  and  the  sun  rose  clear ; 
I  know  I  almost  wished  I  could  be  of  the  party  then  starting, 
for  I  was  told  we  were  all  to  go  as  soon  as  preparation  was 
made  for  our  reception."] 

[Dr.  Cutler  to  Hon.  Ebenezer  Hazard. '\ 

Ipsavich,  Sejjt.  18,  1787. 

Dear  Sir : — Your  kind  letter  was  sent  me  yesterday  from 
the  Post-office.  It  reminded  me  of  my  own  neglect,  particu- 
larly, in  not  forwarding  to  you  the  papers  I  promised  when  at 
New  York.  But  my  time  has  been  so  constantly  occupied 
with  the  Ohio  business  since  my  return,  that  I  have  scarcely 
found  an  hour's  leisure  for  attending  to  any  thing  else.  The 
hobby-horse  on  which  I  am  now  completely  mounted  has  been 
considerably  animated  by  receiving  the  cousin-german  you 
were  so  kind  as  to  send  me,  and  the  pleasure  of  riding  much 
increased ;  for  I  flatter  myself  we  shall  be  able  to  vie  with 
'our  western  competitors  in  city  building. 

Y^'ou  will  see,  by  the  inclosed,  that  our  ideas  of  streets,  and 
the  width  of  front  lots,  nearly  correspond  with  yours.  I  am 
not,  however,  pleased  Avith  the  size  nor  form  of  our  squares. 
It  is  proposed  that  there  should  be  nine  lots  on  a  side,  and 
four  at  the  end,  which  I  think  will  have  too  much  of  the  ob- 
long. Were  the  ends  increased,  though,  I  should  prefer  an 
oblong  to  a  square ;  the  effect  would  be  more  pleasing  to  the 
eye,  and  not  less  convenient.  The  rear,  which  I  think  is  now 
too  scanty,  might  be  increased,  and  the  whole  of  the  lots  more 
uniform.  The  plan  we  have  formed  was,  unavoidably,  done  in 
a  hasty  manner,  without  drawing  it  on  paper,  and  will,  I  think, 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  331 

be  somewhat  altered.  It*  is  our  intention  to  set  rows  of  mul- 
berry trees,  immediately,  on  each  side  of  the  streets,  at  the 
distance  of  ten  or  fifteen  feet  from  the  line  on  Avhich  the  houses 
are  to  be  built.  They  will  make  an  agreeable  shade,  increase 
the  salubrity  of  the  air,  add  to  the  beauty  of  the  streets,  and, 
what  we  have  principally  in  view,  aiford  food  for  an  immense 
number  of  silk-worms.  If  the  trees  are  placed  fifteen  feet 
from  the  houses,  there  will  be  ample  room  between  them  and 
the  houses  for  foot  passage,  the  houses  less  liable  to  suffer  by 
them,  and  the  streets  will  be  seventy  feet  between  the  rows  of 
trees — a  Avidth,  I  should  suppose,  sufficient  for  every  purpose. 
I  must  beg  the  favor  of  your  opinion  with  respect  to  the  lots, 
squares,  and  trees.  The  quantity  of  ground  we  propose  to 
lay  out  in  city  lots  is  to  be  equal  to  four  miles  by  two — which 
Avill  admit  of  about  four  lots  to  a  share.  But  we  conceive  our- 
selves too  much  unacquainted  with  the  form  and  situation  of 
the  land  proper  for  building  to  lay  out  the  whole  of  the  lots 
until  it  has  been  properly  explored.  We  have,  therefore,  made 
a  general  reserve  of  a  quantity  of  land  sufficient  for  tlie  remain- 
ing city  lots  and  large  commons,  which  are  to  be  laid  out  soon 
after  Ave  take  possession  of  the  ground.     So  much  for  the  city. 

You  ask  Avhat  Ave  have  done  at  our  meeting  ?  Not  Avhat  I 
Avished  to  have  done.  In  making  choice  of  a  Treasurer,  tAvo 
gentlemen  only  Avere  mentioned.  The  one  whom  I  suggested 
to  you,  and  the  one  elected.  They  both  appeared  to  meet  the 
full  approbation  of  the  agents,  as  such  characters  as  they 
Avould  Avish  to  intrust  Avith  their  funds.  It  Avas  mentioned  by 
some,  that  the  gentleman  Avho  Avas  elected  held  a  large  sum  in 
public  securities,  had  interested  himself  much  in  the  Company, 
and  might  probably  be  prevailed  upon  to  loan  some  of  them 
to  the  Company  if  Ave  should  fail  of  collecting  the  Avhole  of 
the  first  payment  by  the  time  proposed.  I  fancied,  hoAvever, 
that  as  much  Avas  suggested  in  favor  of  the  other  gentleman ; 
but,  in  addition  to  this,  as  the  former  Avas  more  particularly 
knoAvn  to  the  officers  of  the  army,  Avho  made  up  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  agents,  the  ballot  closed  in  his  fixvor. 

The  new  director  Avas  appointed  against  the  inclinations 
even  of  the  most  of  those  Avho  voted  for  him.  But  Ave  Avere 
so  circumstanced  as  to  be  under  the   necessity  of  choosing 


332  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

him.  He  represented  upward  of  one  hundred  shares  from  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island,  Several  gentlemen  of  respectable 
characters  from  that  State  requested  that  he  might  be  ap- 
pointed. We  wanted  the  money,  and  must  not  only  have  failed 
of  it,  but  given  umbrage  and  excited  a  powerful  opposition. 

Shares,  since  our  meeting,  have  been  in  great  demand ;  the 
most  of  them  are  now  disposed  of,  and  principally  to  such 
people  as  intend  to  go  into  the  country.  Were  it  not  for  the 
extreme  scarcity  of  hard  money,  we  should  be  able  to  obtain 
immediately  much  more  than  the  first  payment.  We  have  now 
no  doubt  of  obtaining  that  sum  by  the  4th  of  October.  You 
will  see  that  the  directors  will  not  be  able  to  porket  all  the 
hard  dollars,  for  they  have  agreed  that  one  hundred  houses 
shall  be  built  this  autumn  and  winter,  and  as  much  seed  as 
possible  put  into  the  ground  in  the  spring.  We  have  already 
engaged  one  hundred  men,  who  are  to  march  for  that  country 
by  the  25th  of  October  ;  and  if  our  money,  after  purchasing 
the  teams,  tools,  etc.,  will  admit,  we  shall  increase  the  num- 
ber. General  Parsons  and  General  Putnam  are  both  to  go 
with  them,  but  Putnam  to  have  the  immediate  control  of  the 
works.     Your  sincere  friend,  M.  Cutler. 

Boston,  Sept.  29,  1787. 

My  Dear  Sir  :—l  have  a  letter  from  our  friend  Hazard,  in 
which  he  says  you  promised  to  write  to  him,  and  he  is  desirous 
of  hearing  from  you  relative  to  the  Ohio  Country,  or  rather, 
■  the  doings  of  the  Company. 

Yesterday,  two  families  of  your  people  passed  through  this 
Town  on  their  way  thither.  Major  Sargent  says  they  had 
your  blessing  before  they  left  home. 

AVhen  vou  come  this  way  again,  remember  that  you  are  one 
visit  in  arrears  to  me.  I  have  it  chalked  up  against  you.  I 
want  to  talk  much  with  you  about  the  good  land.  Had  I  cash 
to  spare,  I  might  become  a  purchaser,  at  non,  ergo. 

Did  you  hear  the  name  of  your  new  city?  Gastrapolis; 
Anglice,  Camptoivn,  in  allusion  to  the  ancient  fortress. 

Well,  my  friend,  if  you  do  go,  remember  to  correspond  with 
him  who  always  wishes  to  be  your  affectionate  friend. 

The  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  Jerb.  Belknap. 


Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cufler.  333 

Ipswich,  Scqjt.  39,  1787. 

Dear  Sir : — Yours  of  the  16tli  I  did  not  receive  until  yester- 
day, and  last  evening  I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  another 
of  the  24th  instant.  Since  our  last  meeting  and  circulation 
of  our  hand-bills,  shares  have  been  in  great  demand,  but  the 
extreme  scarcity  of  money  renders  it  impossible  for  many 
even  of  very  considerable  property  to  become  adventurers.  I 
have,  however,  disposed  of  a  considerable  number,  and  made 
collections  equal  to  my  expectations.  Was  money  to  be  had, 
or  the  time  a  few  months  longer  (when  fat  cattle  would  be  fit 
for  the  market),  I  should  be  assured  of  obtaining  a  sum  equal 
to  our  wishes.  Great  exertions  are  now  making,  and  although 
the  time  is  short,  hope  to  make  considerable  additions.  The 
rage  for  going  into  the  Country  from'  this  part  of  Massachu- 
setts and  Nev/  Hampshire  has  astonished  me.  More  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  have  applied  to  me  to  go  this  autumn  on  the 
terms  we  agreed  on  at  the  last  meeting.  They  have  almost 
refused  to  take  a  denial.  The  men  I  have  engaged  are  equal 
to  any  I  Avould  have  chosen. 

I  received  a  letter  yesterday  from  General  Putnam.  He 
Avrites  that  he  has  had  considerable  success,  and  the  prospect 
increasing.  He  has  not  heard  what  progress  has  been  made 
in  the  Counties  of  Hampshire  and  Berkshire,  but  expected  to 
meet  General  Tupper  and  Major  Ashley  at  Springfield  this 
week.  He  thinks  the  collection  will  be  "  sufficient  to  complete 
our  contract."  He  writes  very  jjressingly  for  both  of  us  to  go 
to  New  York.  It  appears  unnecessary  for  me  to  go,  nor  do  I 
see  how  I  can  well  make  it  convenient.  General  Putnam  will 
be  in  Boston  on  Thursday  next  Aveek,  but  I  think  it  will  not 
be  possible  for  me  to  complete  my  collections  earlier  than 
Saturday,  which  v/ill  render  it  impracticable  for  me  to  be  in 
Boston  before  Monday.  General  Putnam  expects  General 
Tupper  and  Major  Ashley  to  come  with  him.  If  they  do,  I 
hope  they  will  not  return  until  after  Monday,  for  I  very  much 
wish  to  see  them. 

I  am  pleased  to  hear  that  Mr.  Flint  is  about  to  go  on  to 
New  York.  Wish  him  now  in  Europe.  I  mentioned  to  him 
the  matter  of  supplies.  He  proposed  taking  letters  of  credit 
from   some   merchant   in  New  York  to  his   correspondent  in 


o 


34  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler 


Holland,  wliicli  he  supposed  might  easily  be  obtained.  This, 
I  think,  might  be  the  best  mode  of  making  provision  for  him. 
If  he  is  successful,  he  may  soon  refund ;  if  not,  we  can  pay 
the  money  here  and  save  the  risk  of  the  seas.  Colonel  Duer 
will  most  certainly  assist  him  in  obtaining  them.  Mr.  Flint 
will  be  able  to  carry  with  him  our  new  federal  constitution, 
which  I  think  a  very  favorable  circumstance.  Is  there  not  a 
tolerable  prospect  of  his  being  able  to  negotiate  in  England? 
Our  associates  at  New  York  and  Mr.  Jefferson  will  be,  per- 
haps, the  best  judges.  Our  prospects  abroad,  at  any  rate,  I 
think,  brighten  upon  us. 

I  am,  dear  sir. 

Most  sincerely  yours, 

M.  Cutler. 
Major  Winthrop  Sargext. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  335 


CHAPTER   VIII.  • 

The  Influence  Exerted  by  Dr.  Cutler  in  the  Formation  of  the 
Oriiinvnce  for  the  Government  of  the  Territory  of  the 
United  States  North-west  of  the  Hiver  Ohio,  Passed  July  ]?>, 
1787. 

The  general  subject  of  establishing  a  distinct  government  or 
Colony  westward  of  the  limits  of  any  of  the  thirteen  colonies, 
received  the  attention  of  the  British  government  before  the 
Revolutionary  War. 

The  following  reference  is  made  to  this  subject  in  a  report 
made  to  Congress  on  May  1,  1782.  Referring  to  the  lands 
then  claimed  by  Virginia,  the  Committee  say  :  "  It  appeared 
that,  in  the  year  1763,  a  very  large  part  thereof  was  separated 
and  appointed  for  a  distinct  government  and  colony  by  the 
King  of  Great  Britain,  with  the  knowledge  and  approbation  of 
the  government  of  Virginia."  (Journ.  Cong.)  The  Earl  of 
Dunsmore  writes  quite  fully  to  the  Earl  of  Hillsborough,  under 
date  of  November  12,  1770,  "  on  the  scheme  in  agitation  of 
establishing  a  colony  on  the  Ohio."  (N.  Y.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  8, 
p.  253.)  Sir  William  Johnson,  in  a  letter  dated  June  20, 1774, 
to  Earl  Dartmouth,  says,  "  a  considerable  number  of  settle- 
ments were  made  on  the  Ohio  as  early  as  1765."  (Vol.  8,  p. 
460.)  Dartmouth  writes  to  Johnson,  July  6,  1774,  strongly 
condemning  the  scheme. 

It  also  appears  that  an  agreement  was  entered  into  with  the 
King  and  council  for  erecting  a  colony  called  "  Vandalia," 
which  agreement  was  completed  all  to  affixing  the  seals  and 
passing  the  usual  forms  of  office.  (Journ.  Cong.,  May  1, 1782.) 
General  Washington  refers  to  this  scheme  in  his  propositions 
for  colonizing  his  lands  on  the  Ohio  already  given,  (p.  140.) 
All  this  was  before  the  Avar,  and  while  the  territory  belonged 
to  the  crown.  Congress  took  up  the  subject  before  they  had 
acquired  the  territory  by  conquest,  and  followed  it  up  until  the 
final  conclusion,  July  13,  1787.     The  following  extracts  from 


336  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

the  journals  of  Congress  are  presented,  to  show  that  "  new 
states,^'  "  distinct  governjuenis"  were  regarded  as  the  true  line 
of  public  policy  in  dealing  with  the  future  interests  of  the  vast 
interior :  ^ 

1.  On  the  21st  of  May,  1779,  the  delegates  from  the  State 
of  Maryland  received  instructions,  that  were  entered  upon  the 
Journals  of  Congress,  claiming  that  the  unsettled  country,  if 
"  wrested  from  the  common  enemy  by  the  blood  and  treasure 
of  the  thirteen  States,  should  be  considered  a  common  prop- 
erty, subject  to  be  parceled  out  by  Congress  into  free,  conven- 
ient, and  independent  governments,  in  such  manner  and  at  such 
times  as  the  wisdom  of  that  assembly  shall  direct." 

2.  The  following  is  the  record  of  Congress  for  October  10, 
1780  :  '^Besolvcd,  That  the  unappropriated  lands  that  may  be 
ceded  or  relinquished  to  the  United  States  by  any  particular 
state,  pursuant  to  the  recommendations  of  Congress  of  the  6th 
of  September  last,  shall  be  disposed  of  for  the  common  benefit 
of  the  United  States,  and  be  settled  and  formed  into  distinct 
Republican  States,  which  shall  become  members  of  the  Federal 
Union,  and  have  the  same  rights  of  sovereignty,  freedom,  and 
independence,  as  the  other  states ;  that  each  state  which  shall 
be  formed  shall  contain  a  suitable  extent  of  territory,  not  less 
than  100  or  more  than  150  miles  square,  or  as  near  thereto  as 
circumstances  will  admit;  that  the  necessary  and  reasonable 
expenses  which  any  particular  state  shall  have  incurred  since 
the  commencement  of  the  present  war  in  subduing  any  British 
Posts,  or  in  maintaining  posts  or  garrisons  within  and  for  the 
defense,  or  in  acquiring  any  part  of  the  territory  that  may  be 
ceded  or  relinquished  to  the  United  States,  shall  be  reimbursed. 
That  the  said  lands  shall  be  granted  or  settled  at  such  times 
and  under  such  regulations  as  shall  hereafter  be  agreed  upon 
by  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  or  any  nine  of 
them."  The  above  constitutes  the  entire  record  in  the  Journals 
of  Congress  for  October  10,  1780.  No  names  of  attendance, 
votes,  or  Committee  are  given  ;  but  it  is  the  first  distinct  an- 
nouncement by  Congress  of  the  policy  of  organizing  new  states 
or  distinct  o-overnments  in  the  North-west. 

3.  On  May  1,  1782,  the  following  resolution  is  embraced  in 
a  report  made  by  a  Committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Boudinot, 


Life  of  Rev.  Mcmas^eh  Cutler.  337 

Varnum,  Jenifer,  Smith,  and  Livermore,  to  Avhom  had  been 
referred  the  cessions  of  New  York,  Virginia,  and  Connecticut, 
and  petitio^ns  from  the  Indiana,  Vandalia,,  Illinois,  and  Wabash 
Land  Corapanies  : 

"  Resolved,  That  whenever  the  United  States  in  Congress 
assembled  shall  find  it  for  the  good  of  the  Union  to  permit 
new  settlements  on  unappropriated  lands,  they  will  erect  a 
new  state  or  states,  to  be  taken  into  the  Federal  Union  in 
such  manner  that  no  one  state  so  erected  shall  exceed  the 
quantity  of  130  miles  square,  and  that  the  same  shall  be  laid 
out  into  Towmships  of  about  six  miles  square."  The  Journal 
does  not  show  that  this  Resolution  was  adopted,  but  it  indi- 
cates the  prevailing  views  at  the  time. 

4.  On  September  13,  1783,  a  Committee,  consisting  of 
Messrs.  Rutledge,  Ellsworth,  Bedford,  Gorham,  and  Madison, 
reported  the  following  proposition,  which  was  agreed  to : 
"  That  the  temtory  so  ceded  should  be  laid  out  and  formed 
into  states  containing  a  suitable  extent  of  territory,  not  less 
than  100  nor  more  than  150  miles  square,  or  as  near  thereto 
as  circumstances  will  admit ;  and  that  the  states  so  formed 
should  be  distinct  republican  states,  and  admitted  members  of 
the  Federal  Union,  having  the  same  rights  of  sovereignty, 
freedom,  and  independence,  as  the  other  states."  The  deed 
of  cession  from  Virginia,  which  was  accepted  by  Congress  on 
March  1,  1784,  contains  the  above  proposition. 

5.  On  the  14th  of  October,  1783,  a  Committee,  consisting  of 
Messrs.  Duane,  Peters,  Carroll,  Hawkins,  and  A.  Lee,  presented 
a  report  upon  the  subject  of  Indian  affairs  and  the  western 
lands.  During  the  discussion,  Mr.  Gerry  offered  the  follow- 
ing proposition,  which  was  "  agreed  to,"  although  there  is  no 
entry  showing  that  the  entire  report  was  adopted.  Mr.  Gerry 
moved  to  amend  so  that  it  would  read  as  follows  :  "  Your 
Committee  therefore  submit  it  for  consideration,  whether  it 
will  not  be  wise  and  necessary,  as  soon  as  circumstances  shall 
permit,  to  erect  a  district  of  the  western  territory  into  a  dis- 
tinct government,  as  well  for  doing  justice  to  the  army  of  the 
United  States,  who  are  entitled  to  lands  as  a  bounty,  or  in  re- 
ward for  their  services,  as  for  the   accommodation  of  such  as 

22 


B38  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

may  desire  to  become  purchasers  and  inhabitants,  and  in  the 
interim  to  appoint  a  committee  to  report  a  plan,  consistent 
with  the  principles  of  confederation,  for  connecting  with  the 
Union  by  a  temporary  government  the  purchasers  and  inhab- 
itants of  the  said  district,  until  their  numbers  and  circum- 
stances shall  entitle  them  to  form  a  permanent  constitution 
for  themselves,  and  as  citizens  of  a  free,  sovereign,  and  inde- 
pendent state,  to  be  admitted  to  a  representation  in  the  Union. 
Provided,  such  Constitution  shall  not  be  incompatible  with  the 
republican  principles  which  are  the  basis  of  the  Constitution 
of  the  republican  states  of  the  Union." 

6.  The  next  expression  of  Congressional  policy  is  found  in 
the  adoption  of  a  report  made  by  Messrs.  Jefferson,  Howell, 
and  Chase,  April  23,  1784,  In  this  case  the  previously  de- 
clared intentions  of  Congress  in  rejrard  to  nevr  states  were  so 
far  consummated  as  to  work  out  the  general  outlines  of  a 
governmental  scheme.  This  effort  was  evidently  unsatis- 
factory, as  no  attempt  was  ever  made  to  effect  a  settlement 
of  territory  under  its  provisions ;  and,  subsequently,  the  sub- 
ject was  placed  in  the  hands  of  another  committee,  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Johnson,  Pinckney,  Smith,  Dane,  and  Henry. 
This  Committee  reported  an  ordinance  on  April  26,  1787, 
which  was  ordered  to  a  third  reading  on  May  10th,  but  never 
received  final  action.  A  Committee,  consisting  of  Messrs. 
Carrington,  Dane,  R.  H.  Lee,  McKean,  and  Smith,  reported 
the  ordinance  which  received  the  unanimous  approval  of  all 
the  eight  states  then  present,  on  the  13th  of  Jvily,  1787. 

It  can  not  be  claimed  that  there  was  any  concert  of  action 
actually  agreed  upon  between  Congress  and  the  promoters  of 
the  Ohio  Company  in  regard  to  founding  a  "  new  state ;"  still, 
it  is  evident  that  governmental  institutions  were  constantly  in 
view  by  the  "Associates,"  from  the  first  inception  of  their 
plan  until  its  consummation.  These  evidences  have  already 
been  presented  to  the  reader,  as  they  occurred  in  proper  order, 
but  attention  may  be  called  to  them  at  this  place  in  the  narra- 
tive in  connection  with  the  policy  of  Congress. 

Colonel  Pickering  undoubtedly  expressed  a  prevailing  senti- 
ment at  that  time  when  he  said,  "  But  a  new  plan  is  in  con- 
templation, no  less  than  forming  a  new  state  westtvard  of  the 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  339 

Oldo"  Colonel  Pickering  drew  up  an  outline  of  principles 
to  be  embraced  in  the  constitution  of  the  "new  state."  The 
285  officers,  in  their  petition  to  Congress,  say  :  "  That  this 
country  is  of  sufificient  extent,  the  land  of  such  quality,  and 
the  situation  such  as  may  induce  Congress  to  assign  and  mark 
it  out  as  a  tract  of  territory  suitable  to  form  a  distinct  Gov- 
ernment (or  colony  of  the  United  States),  in  time  to  be  ad- 
mitted one  of  the  confederated  States  of  America."  "  That 
provisions  may  also  be  made  for  a  further  grant  of  lands  to 
such  of  the  army  as  wish  to  become  adventurers  in  the  new 
Government,  in  such  quantities  and  on  such  conditions  of  set- 
tlement and  purchase  of  public  securities  as  Congress  shall 
judge  most  for  the  interest  of  the  intended  government,  and 
rendering  it  of  lasting  consequence  to  the  American  Empire." 
This  Petition  was  dated  June  16,  1783.  Mr.  Gerry  was  the 
representative  in  Congress  of  the  largest  number  of  these  pe- 
titioners, and  it  is  not  improbable  that  he  had  their  wishes  in 
view  when  he  refers  in  his  amendment  (four  months  afterward, 
October  14th)  to  "  doing  justice  to  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  who  are  entitled  to  lands  as  a  bounty,  or  in  reward  of 
their  services."  General  Putnam  had  in  view  an  organized 
government  Avhen  he  wrote  his  letter  to  General  Washington, 
June  16th,  the  same  date  as  the  officers'  petition. 

From  these  evidences  of  intention  on  the  part  of  the  "Asso- 
ciates," it  is  a  reasonable  conclusion  that  their  Agent,  in  at- 
tending to  their  business  before  Congress,  Avould  conduct  his 
negotiations  on  a  line  that  was  thus  marked  out  as  acceptable 
to  both  Congress  and  his  constituents.  There  is  abundant 
evidence  that  Dr.  Cutler's  own  views  were  in  harmony  with 
the  other  parties  in  the  transaction.  In  his  letter  to  Major 
Sargent,  he  speaks  of  the  "  State  of  Washington  "  as  connected 
with  their  plan.     [See  Appendix.'\ 

In  his  pamphlet,  issued  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  emigra- 
tion, he  dwells  upon  the  idea  of  an  established  Government  in 
the  new  country  as  a  motive  to  settle  there.  He  says:  "In 
the  ordinance  of  Congress  for  the  government  of  the  territory 
North-west  of  the  Ohio,  it  is  provided  that,  after  said  territory 
acquires  a  certain  degree  of  population,  it  shall  be  divided 
into  states.     The  Eastern  state  that  is  thus  provided  to  be 


340  Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler. 

m<ade  is  bounded  by  the  Great  Miami  on  tlie  West  and  by 
Pennsylvania  on  the  East.  The  center  of  this  State  "will  fall 
between  the  Scioto  and  Hocking.  At  the  mouth  of  one  of  these 
rivers  will  probably  be  the  seat  of  government  for  this  state ; 
and  if  we  may  indulge  in  the  sublime  contemplation  of  behold- 
ing the  whole  territory  of  the  United  States  settled  by  an  en- 
lightened people,  and  continued  under  one  government,  on  the 
Ohio  River,  and  not  far  from  this  spot,  will  be  the  seat  of 
Empire  for  the  whole  dominion."  It  is  worthy  of  notice,  in 
looking  up  the  beginnings  of  governmental  ideas  and  policies, 
that  the  plan  of  Pickering,  and  Putnam's  letter  to  Washington, 
foreshadowed  civil  and  political  organization  before  the  Reso- 
lutions reported  by  JeflFerson,  April  23,  1784,  were  adopted. 
The  earlier  efforts  of  Pickering  and  Putnam  afford  very  pos- 
itive evidence  that  a  "  new  state " — an  "  intended  govern- 
ment"— occupied  a  prominent  place  in  the  minds  of  the  pro- 
jectors of  the  "  Ohio  scheme."  While  Jefferson's  resolutions 
were  a  nearer  approach  to  the  necessary  forms  of  a  govern- 
ment, the  intention  to  have  a  government  is  clearly  manifested. 
Putnam's  system  of  defenses  against  Indian  invasions  was  a 
wise  and  comprehensive  one.  If  it  had  been  adopted  promptly, 
there  would  have  been  no  Indian  war,  no  defeats  of  two  armies, 
no  large  outlay  in  organizing  ultimate  success.  Putnam  out- 
lined the  true  Indian  policy  in  this  letter,  just  as  the  Agent  of 
the  Ohio  Company  secured  from  Congress,  in  the  sixth  article 
of  the  ordinance  of  lq87,  a  clear  and  distinct  announcement  of 
a  policy  of  peace  and  justice  toward  the  Indians. 

In  the  attempts  of  Pickering  and  Putnam  are  found  valuable 
principles  in  regard  to  Land  Tenure,  the  Township  system, 
support  of  schools  and  religion,  and  total  exclusion  of  slavery. 
It  is  fair  to  claim,  therefore,  that  when  the  officers  of  the  army 
entered  upon  their  plan  of  a  "  new  state  westward  of  the  Ohio," 
they  entertained  very  definite  views  in  regard  to  the  civil 
and  political  foundations  that  would  be  laid  for  their  expected 
homes.  They  were  not  mere  land  seekers,  or  even  home 
builders.  The  weightier  words,  "  state,"  "  government,"  "  em- 
pire," found  place  in  their  anticipations. 

Passing  from  these  preliminary  statements  in  regard  to 
Congressional  policy,  as  well  as  prevailing  views  outside 
of    that    body,    it   is    a   matter    of    historic    interest    to    in- 


Life  of  Rev.  dianasseh  Cutler.  341 

quire  into  and  ascertain  as  nearly  as  possible  the  influ- 
ence exerted  by  the  Agent  of  the  Ohio  Company  in  his 
negotiations  -with  Congress  in  shaping  the  material  and 
procuring  the  passage  of  the  Organic  Law  that  was  to  go  with 
them  into  that  distant  wilderness.  It  was  passed  by  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  then  in  session  in  New  York.  It  was,  there- 
fore, their  work  so  far  as  the  responsibilities  of  legislation  go, 
but  it  can  hardly  be  claimed  that  every  member  of  that  dis- 
tinguished body  shared  equally,  or  even  largely,  in  its  forma- 
tion. The  subject  had  been  exclusively  in  their  hands,  as 
shown  by  the  foregoing  extracts  from  their  journals,  from  1780 
to  within  a  few  days  of  its  final  passage  ;  that  is,  no  evidence 
can  be  found  that  any  outside  influence  was  brought  to  bear 
during  that  period  of  Congressional  labor.  Their  records 
give  evidence  of  the  full  extent  and  character  of  their  wisdom 
and  counsels  in  preparing  an  "  Ordinance  for  the  Government 
of  the  Western  Territory."  The  results  of  their  labors  are 
found  in  the  Resolutions  passed  April  23,  1784,  which  proved 
an  abortion  by  remaining  a  dead  letter,  Avith  intervening  re- 
ports of  substitutes,  until  it  was  brushed  away  by  the  action 
of  July  13,  1787. 

It  can  not  be  denied  that  these  Congressional  efforts  em- 
braced valuable  principles,  and  their  originators  are  entitled 
to  full  credit.  It  is  not  necessary  here  to  discuss  their  merits, 
as  they  arc  matters  of  history,  and  are  open  to  careful  atten- 
tion and  well  worthy  of  it.  First  came  the  paper  adopted 
April  23,  1784 ;  second,  the  paper  reported  April  26,  1787, 
Avhich  probably  grew  out  of  Parsons'  application  to  purchase 
lands.  This  was  distinct  from  that  of  April  23,  1784,  as  it 
proposed  the  entire  repeal  of  its  predecessor.  Although  that 
which  passed  July  13, 1787,  embraced  some  of  the  principles  of 
the  two  that  preceded  it,  yet  it  was  distinct  enough  to  be  re- 
garded as  a  third  effort  to  provide  an  organic  law  for  the 
Western  Territory.  In  this  effort,  Congressional  action  was 
directed  by  outside  influence.  This  influence  supplied  an  ele- 
ment that  had  been  lacking  in  all  former  efforts.  Hitherto 
the  subject  had  been  in  the  hands  of  able  statesmen,  wise  and 
patriotic  men,  who  undoubtedly  sought  to  forecast  a  model 
governmental  plan ;  but  it  can  hardly  be  claimed  that  they 


342  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianassek  Cutler. 

expected  to  make  a  personal  application  of  its  principles,  or 
that  they  were  acting  for  others  who  stood  ready  to  do  so. 

Early  in  July,  1787,  Congress  was  called  upon  to  consider 
an  application  such  as  had  never  before  been  made.  It  was 
a  proposition  to  undertake  the  permanent  occupation  of  that 
distant  wilderness  in  a  systematic  manner  of  settlement, 
upon  a  large  scale,  embracing  distinctly  the  idea  of  a  "  new 
state,"  as  cherished  by  the  projectors  of  the  scheme.  When 
Dr.  Cutler  placed  this  scheme  before  Congress  he  could  ap- 
peal honestly  and  urgently  for  the  establishment  there  of  such 
civil  and  social  institutions  as  would  meet  his  own  wants  and 
those  of  his  neighbors  as  pioneer  settlers.  He  could  say  with 
propriety'- :  "  If  Ave  venture  our  all,  with  our  families,  in  this 
enterprise,  Ave  must  know  beforehand  Avhat  kind  of  founda- 
tions Ave  are  to  build  on."  Hence,  his  first  effort  Avas  to  attend 
to  the  organic  kxAV. 

There  is  sufficient  historic  data  to  satisfy  the  inquirer  that 
this  was  the  situation  Avhen,  on  the  10th  of  July,  1787,  Dr. 
Cutler  made  the  foUoAving  entry  in  liis  journal :  "  This  morn- 
ing another  conference  Avith  the  committee.  As  Congress  was 
now  engaged  in  settling  the  form  of  government  for  the  Fed- 
eral Territory,  for  Avhich  a  bill  has  been  prepared,  and  a  copy 
sent  to  me  (Avith  leave  to  make  remarks  and  propose  amend- 
ments), Avhich  I  had  taken  the  liberty  to  remark  upon  and 
propose  several  amendments,  I  thought  this  the  most  favora- 
ble time  to  go  on  to  Philadelphia."  July  19th,  after  his  re- 
turn from  Philadelphia,  he  says  :  "  Called  on  members  of  Con- 
gress very  early  in  the  morning,  and  Avas  furnished  Avith  the 
ordinance  establishing  a  government  in  the  Western  Federal 
Territory.  It  is  in  a  degree  noAv-modeled.  The  amendments 
I  proposed  have  all  been  made,  except  one,  and  that  is  bet- 
ter qualified.  It  Avas  that  Ave  should  not  be  subject  to  conti- 
nental taxation  unless  Ave  Avere  entitled  to  a  full  representa- 
tion in  Congress.  This  could  not  be  fully  obtained,  for  it  Avas 
considered  in  Congress  as  offering  a  premium  to  emigrants. 
They  have  granted  us  representation  Avith  the  right  of  debat- 
ing, but  not  voting,  upon  our  being  first  subject  to  taxation." 

The  next  inquiry  is,  what  influence  did  he  exert  at  that 
time   and   under  these  circumstances  in  the  formation  of  the 


Life  of  Rev.  Maoiasseh  Cuthr.  843 

ordinance  ?  It  had  evidently  been  a  subject  of  discussion 
after  he  had  reached  New  York,  and  before  he  went  to-  Phila- 
delphia, or  it  would  not  have  been  submitted  to  him.  There 
is  no  record  of  the  precise  amendments  that  he  suggested  ; 
and  it  is  quite  probable  that  his  advice  extended  to  and 
covered  the  whole  subject,  as  his  journal  shows  constant  in- 
tercourse Avith  the  members  before  his  visit  to  Philadelphia. 
It  was  during  this  first  portion  of  his  time  that  the  govern- 
mental ordinance  was  under  discussion,  and  he  did  not  enter 
fully  upon  his  negotiation  for  a  purchase  of  land  until  his 
return  from  Philadelphia,  after  the  passage  of  the  govern- 
mental ordinance.  The  following  traditional  testimony  is 
presented  as  AVorthy  of  acceptance  in  establishing  his  claims 
to  the  authorship  of  some  of  its  most  important  principles  : 
If  Dr.  Joseph  Torrey,  of  Salem,  Mass.,  wrote  to  Judge  Ephriam 
Cutler,  Jan.  30,  1847,  as  follows  :  "At  a  recent  professional 
call  at  Hamilton  [Dr.  Cutler's  home]  Brother  Temple  produced 
large  files  of  Ohio  documents,  but  I  had  time  only  for  a  hasty 
examination.  I  saw  among  these  documents  the  Ordinance 
of  1787  on  a  printed  sheet.  On  its  margin  was  written  that 
Mr.  Dane  requested  Dr.  Cutler  to  suggest  such  provisions  as 
he  deemed  advisable,  and  that  at  Dr.  Cutler's  instance  was  in- 
serted what  relates  to  religion,  education,  and  slavery.  These 
facts  have  loner  been  known  to  me  as  household  Avords." 

Hon.  Daniel  Webster  solicited  and  obtained  the  examination 
of  Dr.  Cutler's  journal.  Subsequently,  Temple  Cutler  wrote 
to  his  brother  Ephraim  :  "  Webster  is  now  convinced  that  the 
man  whose  foresight  suggested  some  of  these  articles  Avas  our 
Father." 

Ephraim  Cutler  has  left  the  folloAving  written  statement  of 
his  recollections  :  "  I  visited  my  Father  at  Washington  during 
the  last  session  he  attended  Congress  (1804-5).  In  his 
boarding  house  he  occupied  a  room  Avith  the  reverend  gentle- 
man who  represented  the  Hampshire  and  the  Connecticut 
River  counties,  Avhose  name  I  have  forgotten.  We  Avere  in 
conversation  relative  to  the  political  concerns  of  Ohio,  the 
ruling  parties,  and  the  effect  of  the  (Ohio)  Constitution  in  the 
promotion  of  the  general  interest,  when  he  observed  that  he 
Avas  informed  that  I  had  prepared  that  portion  of  the  Ohio 


344  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler, 

Constitution  which  contained  the  part  of  the  Ordinance  of 
1787,  which  prohibited  slavery.  He  wished  to  know  if  it  was 
a  fact.  On  my  assuring  him  that  it  was,  he  observed  that  he 
thought  it  a  singular  coincidence,  as  he  himself  had  prepared 
that  part  of  the  ordinance  while  he  was  in  New  York  nego- 
tiating the  purchase  of  the  lands  for  tTie  Ohio  Company.  I 
had  not  then  seen  the  Journal  he  kept  while  he  was  in  New 
York  at  that  time."  In  another  written  memoranda  Judge 
Cutler  refers  to  this  conversation  with  his  father,  and  states  as 
the  reason  why  this  prohibition  of  slavery,  as  well  as  the  rec- 
ognition of  religion,  morality,  and  knowledge,  as  foundations 
of  civil  government,  were  incorporated  into  the  ordinance,  and 
provision  made  in  the  land  purchase  for  their  support,  arose 
from  the  fact  that  "he  was  acting  for  associates,  friends,  and 
neighbors,  Avho  would  not  embark  in  the  ^enterprise,  unless 
these  principles  were  unalterably  fixed." 

Additional  support  to  the  claim  of  Dr.  Cutler's  authorship 
to  these  organic  principles  is  found  in  his  own  written  avow- 
als of  them  as  applicable  to  the  conditions  .-of  the  western  set- 
tlements. A  sermon,  marked  No.  418,  has  the  following 
note  : 

"  City  of  Marietta,  in  the  Hall  Tof  Campus  Martins,  August 
24,  1788,  being  the  first  sermon  I  delivered  there,  and  com- 
posed for  that  purpose."  ♦ 

The  text  was  Malachi,  1:11:  "  In  every  place  incense  shall 
be  ofi"ered  to  my  name,  and  a  pure  offering ;  for  my  name 
shall  be  great  amono;  the  heathen,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts." 

The  followino;  extracts  indicate  with  sufficient  clearness 
that  the  ideas  of  the  ordinance  and  the  sermon  were  identical : 
"  The  sun,  the  glorious  luminary  of  day,  comes  forth  from 
his  chambers  of  the  east,  and  rejoicing  to  run  his  course,  car- 
ries light  and  heat  and  joy  through  the  nsLtlons  to  the  re- 
motest parts  of  the  west  and  returns  to  the  place  whence  he 
came.  In  like  manner  divine  truth,  useful  knowledge,  and 
improvement,  appear  to  proceed  in  the  same  direction,  until 
the  bright  day  of  science,  virtue,  pure  religion,  and  free  gov- 
ernment shall  pervade  the  western  hemisphere.  ...  To 
promote  the  civil  and  social  happiness  of  a  new  settlement, 
too  early  attention  can  not  be  paid  to  the  cultivation  of  the 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  345 

principles  of  religion  and  virtue.  Religion  ought  never  to 
be  made  a  political  engine,  but  while  it  is  preserved  perfectly 
free  from  such  a  prostitution,  and  is  improved  to  the  great 
design  of  its  institution,  it  aftbrds  the  greatest  aid  to  civil 
government,  and  has  the  most  happy  ciFect  on  society.  .  .  . 
An  early  attention  to  the  instruction  of  youth  is  of  the  great- 
est importance  to  a  new  settlement.  It  will  lay  the  founda- 
tions for  a  well  regulated  society.  It  is  the  only  way  to  make 
subjects  conform  to  its  laws  and  regulations  from  principles  of 
reason  and  custom  rather  than  the  fear  of  punishment." 

In  the  following  preamble,  prepared  for  the  charter  of  the 
university  for  the  endowment  of  which  he  procured  two  town- 
ships of  land,  he  expresses  the  same  sentiments  :  "  Institu- 
tions for  the  liberal  education  of  youth  being  the  basis  of  arts 
and  sciences,  essential  to  the  security  of  a  free  constitution, 
important  to  morals  and  religion,  promote  the  peace,  order, 
and  happiness  of  society,  and  are  honorable  to  the  govern- 
ment which  patronizes  them,  and  the  people  who  are  forming 
settlements  in  the  Western  Territory,  are  too  remote  for 
placing  their  children  for  education  in  the  seminaries  already 
established  in  the  United  States  ;  from  a  tender  regard  to  the 
interests  of  those  who  are  increasing  the  agriculture  and 
wealth  of  the  nation,  while  they  arc  subjecting  themselves  to 
hardships  and  inconveniemies  in  a  wilderness,  deprived  of  ad- 
vantages enjoyed  by  the  other  states,  and  as  Congress  has 
made  grants  of  land  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  and  sup- 
porting a  university  and  schools  in  the  Western  Territory,  Be 
it  enacted,"  etc. 

The  following  extract  from  the  Pamphlet,  which  he  published 
as  an  "  Explanation ''  of  the  north-western  country,  gives, 
further  evidence  that  this  subject  of  "  knowledge,"  as  ex- 
pressed in  the  Ordinance,  was  an  important  consideration  in 
his  efforts  to  promote  the  settlement  of  the  country.  He 
says:  "In  the  late  Ordinance  of  Congress,  for  disposing  of 
the  western  lands  as  far  down  as  the  Scioto,  the  provision  that 
is  made  for  schools,  and  the  endowment  of  an  University, 
looks  with  a  most  favorable  aspect  upon  the  settlement,  and 
furnishes  the  presentiment  that,  by  proper  attention  to  the 
subject  of  education,  under  these  advantages,  the  field  of  sci- 


346  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

ence  may  be  greatly  enlarged,  and  the  acquisition  of  useful 
knowledge  placed  upon  a  more  respectable  footing  here  than 
in  any  other  part  of  the  world.  Besides  the  opportunity  of 
opening  a  new  and  unexplored  region  for  the  range  of  natural 
history,  botany,  and  the  medical  science,  there  Avill  be  an  ad- 
vantage which  no  other  part  of  the  earth  can  boast,  and  wdiich 
probably  will  never  occur  again ;  that,  in  order  to  begin  riglii, 
there  will  be  no  wrong  habits  to  combat,  and  no  inveterate 
systems  to  overturn — there  is  no  rubbish  to  remove  before  lay- 
ing the  foundations." 

To  these  expressions  of  sentiments,  so  nearly  identical  with 
those  embodied  in  the  Ordinance,  may  be  added  the  personal 
efforts  made  by  Dr.  Cutler  in  actually  applying  these  princi- 
ples, as  shown  in  the  correspondence  and  papers  found  in  this 
volume.  Congress  had  refused  to  set  apart  section  twenty- 
nine  in  each  township  for  the  support  of  religion,  but  Dr. 
Cutler  insisted  that  one-thirty-sixth  of  the  land  should  be  ap- 
plied to  that  purpose.  He  also  insisted  on  two  townships  as  a 
foundation  for  a  University,  and  was  at  great  pains  to  prejoare 
a  charter  for  that  institution.  In  a  letter  to  his  son  Ephraim, 
dated  August  27,  1818,  he  says  that  the  people  are  indebted 
solely  to  his  efforts  for  that  appropriation.  It  is  quite  evi- 
dent that  these  lines  of  public  policy  were  cherished  by  him, 
and  it  is  reasonable  to  claim  that  he  improved  the  opportunity 
to  incorporate  them  in  the  organic  law. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that,  while  the  associates  were  all 
officers  of  the  army,  and  men  of  intelligence  and  experience, 
as  well  as  correct  principles,  they  selected  their  agent  from 
another  calling  in  life.  True  he  had  served  as  Chaplain  in  the 
Revolutionary  Army,  but  his  life  and  labors  were  identified 
and  spent  with  that  remarkable  class  of  men  known  as  the 
New  England  or  Puritan  Clergy.  They  were,  as  a  body,  re- 
markable, because,  at  that  time  and  previously,  they  exerted  a 
greater  influence  in  shaping  the  characters  and  giving  direc- 
tion to  the  active  energies  of  a  Avhole  people  than  any  other 
class  of  citizens.  They  had  carefully  considered  and  con- 
stantly presented  to  the  people  the  essential  principles  of  hu- 
man rights,  of  personal  liberty,  as  Avell  as  the  necessity  of 
obedience   to  law ;  in  a  word,  all  the   firm  foundations  upon 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  347 

which  a  republic  can  stand.  As  a  support  to  these  principles, 
they  had  organized  and  maintained  a  system  of  popular  edu- 
cation extending  from  the  common  school  to  institutions  of 
the  highest  culture.  Their  influence  over  the  people  resulted 
from  religious  convictions,  and  permeated  every  fiber  of  social, 
civil,  and  political  life.  They  were  not  politicians,  did  not 
claim  to  be  statesmen,  yet  governmental  institutions  were 
molded  by  their  precepts. 

Kamsey,  in  his  "  History  of  the  American  Revolution,"  fully 
supports  this  view  of  the  prevailing  influence  of  the  Clergy. 
He  says  :*  "  The  Clergy  of  New  England  were  a  numerous, 
learned,  and  respectable  body,  Avho  had  a  great  ascendency 
over  the  minds  of  their  hearers.  They  connected  religion  and 
patriotism,  and  their  sermons  and  prayers  represented  the 
cause  of  America  as  the  cause  of  Heaven." 

It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that,  when  the  opportunity  was 
presented,  for  one  of  the  Clergy  to  appear  before  Congress  to 
negotiate  for  the  terms  and  conditions  of  future  homes  for  his 
associates,  he  would  follow  the  line  of  his  own  personal  con- 
victions and  insist  upon  the  very  educational  and  moral  forces 
that  are  found  in  the  Ordinance. 

The  origin  of  the  anti-slavery  clause  in  the  Ordinance  has 
been  a  subject  of  general  interest,  and  is  of  suflicient  im- 
portance to  demand  careful  examination.  .  The  popular  mis- 
apprehension that  its  authorship  belongs  to  Jeff"erson  is  scarcely 
worthy  of  discussion,  when  it  is  matter  of  history  that  he  Avas 
in  France  at  the  time  the  Ordinance  was  passed,  and  the  only 
connection  he  had  with  the  subject  is  to  be  found  in  Resolu- 
tions having  in  view  the  same  general  purpose  of  a  north- 
western government,  passed  in  1784,  which  contained  nothing  in 
relation  to  slavery,  although  a  provision  was  reported  by  the 
committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Jefi'erson,  Chase,  and  Howell, 
virtually  giving  permission  for  slavery  to  enter  the  territory,  but 
to  be  excluded  after  the  year  1800.  Even  this  was  defeated, 
and  posterity  has  much  more  reason  for  gratitude  for  the  de- 
feat than  the  report  of  so  dangerous  a  principle  in  the  organic 
law.     This  is  quite  evident  from  the  fact  that,  even  with  the 

*  Vol.  I.,  p.  ]  99. 


348  Life  of  Rev.  31anasseJi  Cutler. 

prohibition  in  the  Ordinance  of  July  1-3,  1787,  the  attempt 
was  made,  under  the  auspices  of  Jefferson,  at  the  time  of  the 
adoption  of  the  first  constitution  for  the  State  of  Ohio,  to  in- 
troduce slavery  into  the  state.  This  effort  Avas  supported  by 
Jefferson's  favorite  theory  of  states'  rights.  The  advocates  of 
the  measure  claimed  that,  as  soon  as  the  state  assumed  its  own 
autonomy  and  became  a  sovereign  among  others,  it  had  the 
right  to  decide  upon  the  provisions  of  an  ordinance  which  was 
the  act  of  only  one  party,  the  general  government.  The  cen- 
tral and  southern  portions  of  the  state  then  had  a  majority  of 
the  population,  and  the  labor  of  slaves  would  have  suited  the 
interests  of  their  fertile  valleys,  while  the  political  prospects 
of  the  new  and  rising  "  states'  rights  democracy  "  would  have 
been  advanced  by  holding  out  such  a  premium  for  emigration 
from  Virginia  and  Kentucky. 

The  rejection  of  Jefferson's  efforts,  both  in  Congress  and  in 
Ohio,  was  a  deliverance  from  impending  danger.  To  what 
source,  then,  can  this  governmental  policy  of  the  exclusion  of 
slavery  from  the  north-west  be  traced  ?  This  is  not  simply  or 
mainly  an  inquiry  into  the  personal  opinions  that  prevailed  at 
that  time.  Anti-slavery  sentiment  was  then  in  the  ascendant. 
No  one  could  claim  exclusive  possession  of  it. 

The  first  appearance  of  a  proposition  to  incorporate  the 
sentiment  as  a  measure  of  governmental  policy  into  the  or- 
ganic laws  of  the  north-west,  or,  in  fact,  of  any  organic  law 
in  this  country,  is  found  in  the  scheme  drawn  up  by  Timothy 
Pickerincr,  for  the  organization  of  a  new  state  in  the  Ohio 
Country,  as  stated  in  his  letter  dated  April  7,  1783.  "  The 
total  exclusion  of  slavery  from  the  state  to  form  an  essential 
and  irrevocable  part  of  the  constitution  "  were  the  words  thus 
presented  for  the  consideration  of  the  very  men  who  orig- 
inated the  whole  of  the  great  enterprise  of  carving  out  a  new 
state  from  the  eastern  portion  of  that  "  great  and  wide  wil- 
derness," and  converting  it  into  homes  for  themselves  and 
their  neighbors. 

The  anti-slavery  feature  of  the  governmental  plan  must 
have  been  discussed  and  understood  at  the  time.  The  officers 
must  have  known  of  it,  and  approved  it,  when  they  signed 
their  petition  dated  June  16,  over  two  months  after  the  circu- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  349 

lation  of  Pickering's  scheme.  Washington  must  have  been 
familiar  with  the  views  of  his  associates,  whose  cause  he  es- 
poused in  presenting  the  petition,  and  "  exerting  every  power  he 
was  master  of"  in  obtaining  for  it  a  favorable  consideration. 

Following  this  movement  of  the  officers  in  securing  the  or- 
ganization of  a  "  7iei.v  state,"  from  its  inception,  as  clearly 
established  by  contemporaneous  records,  to  the  subsequent 
organization  of  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates,  it  is  no 
stretch  of  imagination  or  fact  to  claim  that  when  this  scheme 
of  a  '•'•  neio  state"  was  committed  to  the  hands  of  the  chosen 
Agent  of  the  men  who  originated  it,  that  that  Agent  should 
enter  upon  his  work  in  full  possession  of  the  views  and  wishes 
of  his  associates,  which  were  all  in  accord  with  his  oAvn,  and 
that  he  should  make  every  effort  to  secure  the  adoption  b}^  Con- 
gress of  so  vital  a  provision  as  that  which  was  shadowed  forth  by 
Pickering's  paper.  That  paper  contained  the  first  written  em- 
bodiment of  a  common  sentiment  in  the  form  of  organic  law. 

It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  scheme  of  the  officers  was 
not  simply  one  to  provide  for  individual  necessities.  It  em- 
braced the  broader  proposition  of  a  "  new  state,"  an  "  intended 
government."  Doubtless  there  were  honorable  aspirations  of 
future  control,  position,  and  legitimate  expectations  of  personal 
benefits  that  might  result  from  the  great  hazard  they  were  en- 
countering. All  these  considerations  would  lead  them  to  look 
well  to  the  foundations.  It  is,  therefore,  only  a  reasonable 
presumption  that  Dr.  Cutler,  acting  as  their  Agent,  should  ex- 
ert himself  in  the  direction  of  establishing  those  fundamental 
principles  which  were  forever  to  remain  the  basis  of  all  "  laws, 
constitutions,  and  ordinances,"  of  the  intended  government. 
When  he  reached  New  York  on  his  important  errand,  ho  found 
that  the  southern  or  slave  states  were  masters  of  the  situation. 
The  legislative  power  was  in  their  hands,  as  shown  by  the 
record  of  July  13.  Five  of  the  eight  states  voting  on  the 
adoption  of  the  ordinance  were  slave  states ;  why  did  it  re- 
ceive their  unanimous  approval  ? 

Dr.  Cutler's  journey  was  not  a  sentimental  one,  or  in  any    • 
sense  sectional  or  political,  much  less  a  crusade  against  neigh- 
bors or  institutions.     He  took  over  forty  letters  of  introduc- 
tion to  prominent  and  influential  men  ;  of  these,  three  were  to 
the  members  of  Congress  from  Virginia.     His  journal  shows 


350  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

that  he  paid  special  attention  to  these  gentlemen — Carrington, 
Lee,  and  Grayson — and  ''  members  from  the  southward."  The 
record  shows  that  a  majority  of  a  newly  organized  committee, 
witli  Carrington  at  its  head,  were  from  the  slave  states. 

Mr.  Dane's*  lettei;  to  Rufus  King,  dated  July  16,  1787, 
throws  light  upon  the  subject.  It  is  quite  evident  that  Mr. 
Dane  was  not  consulted  as  to  the  anti-slavery  clause.  He 
says  :  ''  I  had  no  idea  that  the  states  Avould  agree  to  the  sixth 
article  prohibiting  slavery,  as  only  Massachusetts  of  the  east- 
ern states  was  present,  and  therefore  omitted  it  in  the  draft ; 
but,  finding  the  house  favorably  disposed  on  this  subject,  after 
we  had  completed  the  other  parts,  I  moved  the  article,  and  it 
was  agreed  to  without  opposition."  Mr.  Dane  says  :  "  I  moved 
the  article."  Now,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  Mr.  Dane 
was  a  member  of  a  committee  to  whom  the  legislative  body 
had  referred  the  Avhole  subject  of  the  ordinance.  Being  a 
member  of  that  committee,  the  strong  probability  is  that  he 
would  not  have  moved  that  amendment  without  first  consulting 
his  committee.  An  outside  member  might  have  done  so  ;  but 
courtesy  to  his  colleagues  on  the  committee  required  him  to 
consult  them  before  making  such  a  motion.  Such  was  un- 
doubtedly the  case,  so  that  the  motion  really  came  from  the 
committee  through  him  to  the  house ;  and  it  was  not  prompted 
by  himself,  as  acting  on  his  individual  responsibility. 

The  important  inquiry,  therefore,  is,  whence  came  this 
unanimity  by  a  committee,  a  majority  of  whom  were  normally 
hostile  to  the  sixth  article  ?  In  fact,  the  Congress  itself  had 
shown  a  decided  hostility  to  this  measure  more  than  once  prior 
to  this  occasion.  Mr.  Dane  seems  to  so  understand  the  situa- 
tion, for  he  says  :  "  I  had  no  idea  that  the  states  would  agree  to 
the  sixth  article  prohibiting  slavery,"  and  assigns  as  a  reason, 
"  as  only  Massachusetts  of  the  eastern  states  was  present." 
The  explanation  is  easily  found  in  the  fact  that  Massachusetts 
had  another  agent  on  the  ground,  who  had  exerted  such  posi- 
tive influence  with  the  southern  members  that  the  whole  ques- 
tion was  settled  quietly,  without  discussion,  without  sectional 


*  See  Mr.  Dane's  letter  to  Mr.  King,  at  the  close  of  this  chapter,  as 
copied  from  the  New  York  Tribune. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  351 

appeal,  and  was  controlled  by  the  paramount  interests  and 
considerations  that  then  surrounded  the  whole  subject.  Dr.  Cut- 
ler did  not  go  to  Massachusetts  for  anti-slavery  action,  or  for 
land  purchase.  He  went  directly  to  Virginia,  and  to  members 
from  the  "  southward."  They  were  men  that  could,  and  did, 
listen  to  an  intelligent  presentation  of  a  most  important  na- 
tional enterprise,  and  they  possessed  the  patriotism  and  in- 
tegrity of  character  that  raised  them  above  a  mere  sectional 
view  of  the  matter. 

In  this  letter  to  Rufus  King,  Mr.  Dane  also  refers  to  Dr. 
Cutler's  application  for  the  purchase  of  Ohio  lands  as  follows  : 
"  The  Ohio  Company  appeared  to  purchase  a  large  tract  of  the 
Federal  lands,  about  six  or  seven  millions  of  acres.  .  .  . 
We  are  in  a  fair  way  to  fix  the  terms  of  our  Ohio  sale,  etc. 
We  have  been  upon  it  for  three  days  steadily.  The  magni- 
tude of  the  purchase  makes  us  very  cautious  about  the  terms 
of  it,  and  the  security  necessary  to  insure  the  performance  of 
them."  This  shows  the  intimate  connection  that  existed  be- 
tween the  governmental  ordinance  and  the  land  purchase. 
First  came  the  question  of  laying  such  foundations  for  social 
and  civil  well-being,  in  the  entire  future,  as  would  be  accept- 
able to  the  "  adventurers,"  as  they  were  then  known. 

No  attempt  seems  to  have  been  made  for  a  land  purchase 
until  the  more  important  governmental  foundations  were  laid; 
then  came  the  terms  of  sale,  involving  price,  quantity,  loca- 
tion, terms  of  payment,  security,  and  other  considerations — 
all  of  which  seem  to  have  been  canvassed  openly  and  thor- 
oughly. Mr.  Dane  says,  "  we  have  been  upon  it  for  three 
days  steadily."  Dr.  Cutler's  journal  shows  that  it  was  not 
consummated  until  July  23,  ten  days  after  the  passage  of  the 
governmental  ordinance. 

Mr.  Dane  says  :  "  The  magnitude  of  the  purchase  makes  us 
very  cautious  about  the  terms  of  it."  Dr.  Cutler's  journal 
shows  that  he  was  equally  cautious.  The  result  shows  that, 
in  a  fair,  honorable,  and  straightforward  transaction,  both  par- 
ties endeavored  to  secure  and  promote  the  best  interests  of 
their  several  constituencies.  Congress  was  satisfied  to  impart 
an  actual  cash  value  to  the  only  resource  then  within  their 
control,  at  a  fair  price  for  so  large  a  quantity,  and  to  open  up 


852  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

tlieir  vast  and  unoccupied  real  estate  to  future  purchasers  and 
occupants.  The  purchasers  were  satisfied  to  convert  their 
final  certificates,  then  nearly  Avorthless — although  the  price  of 
their  blood  and  toils — into  future  homes. 

The  motives  that  induced  Virginia  to  take  the  lead  in  this 
important  enterprise  are  found  in  the  protection  that  would  he 
afforded  to  her  exposed  frontier  from  savage  attacks.  This 
Avas  clearly  pointed  out  by  General  Putnam  in  his  letter  to 
General  Washington,  and  must  have  been  approved  by  him 
and  the  Virginia  members.  Virginia,  under  the  leadership  of 
Washington,  had  entered  upon  a  wise  and  comprehensive  pol- 
icy of  internal  improvement,  designed  to  secure  the  trade  of 
the  Ohio  valley  and  the  North-west  to  Virginia  seaports.  Ad- 
ditional value  Avould  also  be  imparted  to  her  bounty  lands 
lying  betAveen  the  Scioto  and  Little  Miami.  Add  to  these  the 
personal  sympathy  of  Washington  for  the  success  of  his  old 
associates,  as  Avell  as  his  OAvn  landed  interests  in  the  Ohio 
valley,  and  Ave  find  plain  business  considerations  that  con- 
trolled at  that  time  this  most  important  decision.  And  all 
evidence  points  to  Dr.  Manasseh  Cutler  as  the  agent  Avho  care- 
fully, skillfully,  and  successfully  conducted  these  negotiations 
and  brought  about  their  results. 

By  referring  to  sources  of  information  as  above  indicated, 
we  have  sufficient  evidence,  first,  that  the  officers  of  the  conti- 
nental army  were  the  originators  of  the  grand  scheme  of  occu- 
pation and  cultivation  of  the  "back  country;"  second,  that 
their  scheme  involved  distinctly  the  idea  and  plan  of  a  "  ncAV 
state,"  an  "intended  government,'  as  clearly  expressed  in 
their  petition  ;  third,  that  the  positive  prohibition  of  slavery 
was  one  of  the  organic  ideas  to  be  introduced  into  their 
"  intended  government,"  and  made  forever  irrevocable;  fourth, 
of  the  two  hundred  and  eighty-five  signers  of  that  petition, 
tAvo  hundred  and  thirty-one  Avere  from  the  eastern  or  Ncav 
England  states  ;  fifth,  a  like  proportion  of  the  subscribers  to 
the  funds  of  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates  Avere  from  the 
same  localities.  It  is  a  reasonable  inference  from  these  prem- 
ises that  so  important  a  principle,  one  so  universally  accepted 
by  all  the  interested  parties,  as  the  total  prohibition  of  slavery 


Life  of  Rev.  IfanasseJi  Cutler >  353 

ill  the  constitution  of  their  new  state,  shouhl  have  been  cher- 
ished and  kept  alive  during  the  preparatory  interval  from 
April,  1783,  to  July,  1787,  when  their  views  could  be 
presented  to  Congress ;  and  that  their  wishes  should  be 
urged  upon  Congress  by  their  Agent.  It  is  also  true  that 
other  important  lines  of  public  policy,  as  connected  Avith  the 
"  back  country."  can  be  traced  to  the  same  source. 

General  Putnam,  in  his  letter  to  General  Washington,  June 
16,  1783,  says :  "  The  Petitioners  hope  that  no  grant  will  be 
made  but  by  townships  six  miles  square."  He  also  speaks  of 
a  portion  of  each  township  for  "  the  university  and  schools.'" 
Colonel  Pickering  in  his  scheme  contemplates  the  use  of  lands 
for  "  establishing  schools  and  academies."  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  all  the  moral  and  educational  influences,  as  well  as 
"  human  rights,"  entered  into  and  were  essential  factors  of  a 
scheme  that  embraced  the  transfer  of  their  cherished  principles 
and  policies  of  civil  and  social  life,  along  with  themselves,  to 
these  distant  homes. 

So  far  as  the  introduction  of  the  anti-slavery  idea  into  the 
proceedings  of  Congress  is  concerned,  it  can  be  traced  to  the 
report  made  by  Jefferson,  Howell,  and  Chase,  and  adopted  on 
April  23, 1784.  Subsequently,  Mr.  King  offered  a  proposition 
for  a  total  prohibition  of  slavery,  but  it  was  not  adopted ;  so 
that  Congressional  action,  up  to  1787,  had  been  barren  of  any 
practical  results.  It  is  highly  probable  that  Mr.  King  was 
stimulated  to  make  his  effort  by  a  correspondence  with  his 
friend,  Colonel  Pickering,  who  urges  him,  "  for  God's  sake, 
then,  let  one  more  effort  be  made  to  prevent  so  terrible  a 
calamity"  as  the  introduction  of  slavery  into  the  North-west. 
There  Avas,  undoubtedly,  a  free  interchange  of  views  betAveen 
those  Avho  Avere  invested  Avith  the  responsibilities  of  legislation 
and  those  who  expected  to  make  a  practical  application  of  any 
policy  that  might  be  adopted,  both  in  regard  to  survey  and 
sale  of  land  and  the  government  of  the  territory  ;  but  the  evi- 
dence seems  strongly  to  shoAv  that  the  credit  of  giving  practi- 
cal direction  and  application  to  ideas  and  principles  then  of 
common  acceptation,  is  to  be  accorded  to  that  intelligent  and 
competent  association  of  men  who  planned  and  executed  the 
23 


354  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Ohio  scheme,  and  their  success  was  largely  the  result  of  the 
labors  of  their  Agent. 

Another  important  principle  is  announced  in  the  ordinance, 
the  origin  or  occasion  for  which  is  worthy  of  some  attention. 
The  third  article  provides  that :  "  The  utmost  good  faith  shall 
be  observed  toward  the  Indians ;  their  lands  and  property 
shall  never  be  taken  from  them  without  their  consent ;  and  in 
their  property  rights  and  liberty  they  shall  never  be  invaded 
or  disturbed,  unless  in  just  and  lawful  wars  authorized  by 
Congress  ;  but  laws  founded  in  justice  and  humanity  shall 
from  time  to  time  be  made  for  preventing  wrongs  being  done 
them,  and  for  preserving  peace  and  friendship  with  them." 
We  have  thus  distinctly  marked  out  what  has  received  in  more 
modern  days  the  title  of  a  "  peace  policy  "  toward  the  Indians. 

Is  it  probable  that  in  making  his  terms  with  Congress,  Dr. 
Cutler  would  take  this  subject  into  consideration  ? 

The  following  letter,  addressed  by  General  Putnam  to  Mr. 
Heckewelder,  the  Moravian  missionary,  then  laboring  among 
the  Indians,  presents  the  views  and  policies  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, and  will  be  seen  to  correspond  very  closely  with  the 
principles  as  established  in  the  ordinance.  The  letter  is  dated, 
"  Sumrell's  Ferry,  Youghiogheny  River,  Feb.  29,  1788,"  and 
is  as  follows  :  "  I  have  read  with  pleasure  a  pamphlet  entitled, 
'  Stated  Rules  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Brethren  for 
propagating  the  Gospel  among  the  Heathen,'  which  you  was 
so  obliging  as  to  present  to  Mr.  Foster  (one  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany when  he  was  at  Bethlehem  on  his  way  to  the  Western 
country  in  January  last).  I  was  also  very  happy  to  find  by 
that  gentleman's  account  that  you  entertain  a  favorable  opin- 
ion of  the  settlement  our  company  are  about  to  make  on  the 
Muskingum  River.  Be  assured,  sir,  that  the  directors  of  the 
Ohio  Company  entertain  the  most  friendly  disposition  toward 
the  natives,  and  nothing  could  give  them  greater  satisfaction 
than  to  see  a  friendly  correspondence  established  between  the 
company  and  their  Indian  neighbors ;  such  a  correspondence 
as  would  be  a  mutual  benefit  to  each  other ;  and  there  are 
some  circumstances  Avhich  I  conceive  are  in  our  favor.  Per- 
haps no  people  can  be  found  who  are  better  calculated  to  be- 
gin a  settlement   in    the    neighborhood    of  the    Indians  than 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  355 

those  from  New  England,  for  the  following  reasons  :  Because 
as  the  Indians  having  received  no  injuries  from  our  people, 
they  of  consequence  can  have  no  cause  for  revenge  upon  any 
of  us  for  past  affronts,  and  also  because  the  New  England 
people  being  farmers  and  mechanics,  and  not  hunters,  they 
will  not  be  likeiv  to  interfere  with  the  Indian  interests  as  would 
people  of  a  different  character;  because  from  its  origin  the 
company  set  out  with  the  determination  to  treat  the  Indians 
fairly,  and  are  so  far  from  wishing  to  injure  them,  that,  on  the 
contrary,  they  feel  disposed  to  guard  and  protect  them  against 
every  thing  that  can  be  injurious  or  prejudicial  to  them.  Per- 
haps these  ideas  may  be  thought  erroneous  by  those  who  are 
better  acquainted  with  the  Indians  than  I  am,  but  be  that  as 
it  may,  for  my  OAvn  part  I  most  sincerely  wish,  and  shall  do 
every  thing  in  my  power,  to  have  the  Indians  fairly  treated — 
which  line  of  conduct  I  shall  regard  as  the  one  most  for  the  in- 
terest of  the  proprietors  of  the  company.  I  wish  the  lands 
may  be  purchased  from  them  on  the  principles  of  bargain  and 
sale,  and  not  wrested  from  thein  as  a  condition  of  giving  them 
peace,  and  that  an  experiment  of  fair  dealing  may  be  tried 
■with  tbese  people.  I  have  great  hopes  from  the  treaty  on 
foot." 

We  are  here  presented  with  a  declaration,  on  the  part  of  the 
company's  Superintendent,  embracing  every  essential  princi- 
ple as  to  dealing  with  the  Indians  that  is  found  in  the  ordi- 
nance. The  presumption  is  certainly  strong  that  both  Agents 
of  the  company  were  acting  in  concert,  the  one  to  secure  a 
proper  line  of  policy  from  the  general  government,  the  other 
to  apply  the  policy,  so  far  as  the  company  was  concerned.  A 
strong  motive  to  pursue  this  plan  with  the  natives  is  found  in 
the  security  which  would  thus  be  thrown  around  their  settle- 
ment, as  also  the  profit  that  would  arise  from  the  peltry  trade 
with  them. 

"  The  navigable  waters  leading  into  the  Mississippi  and  St. 
Lawrence,  and  the  carrying-places  between  the  same,  shall 
be  common  highways  and  forever  free,  as  well  to  the  inhabit- 
ants of  said  territory  as  to  the  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
and  those  of  any  other  state  that  may  be  admitted  into  the 
confederacy,  without  any  tax,  impost,  or  duty  therefor."     This 


356  Life  of  Rev.  Maiiasseh  Cutler. 

provision  in  the  Ordinance  was  a  distinct  announcement  of 
that  line  of  public  policy  "whicli  has  resulted  in  unrestricted 
commercial  intercourse  between  all  the  states  of  the  republic. 
It  had  been  adopted  by  a  separate  resolution,  passed  May  12, 
1786,  but  was  not  reported  in  the  Resolutions  of  April  23^ 
1784,  or  in  the  ordinance  reported  April  26,  1787.  Subse- 
quently, the  same  general  principle  took  the  form,  in  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  of  that  provision  which 
places  the  poAver  to  "regulate  commerce  among  the  several 
states  "  in  Congress. 

The  provision  in  the  "Articles  of  Confederation "  was  as 
follows  : 

"  The  people  of  each  state  shall  have  free  ingress  and  egress 
to  and  from  any  other  state,  and  shall  enjoy  therein  all  the 
privileges  of  trade  and  commerce,  subject  to  the  same  duties, 
impositions,  and  restrictions  as  the  inhabitants  thereof,  re- 
spectively ;  provided,  that  such  restrictions  shall  not  extend 
so  far  as  to  prevent  the  removal  of  property  imported  into 
any  state  to  any  other  state  of  Avhich  the  owner  is  an  inhab- 
itant ;  provided,  also,  that  no  imposition,  duties,  or  restric- 
tions shall  be  laid  by  any  state  on  the  property  of  the  United 
States,  or  either  of  them." 

Without  entering  into  a  discussion  of  these  different  pro- 
visions relating  to  the  internal  commerce  of  the  country,  it  is 
quite  evident  that  theframcrs  of  the  Ordinance  of  1787  had  the 
subject  in  view  and  regarded  it  of  sufficient  importance  to  re- 
ceive definite  and  decisive  action.  It  affords  evidence  that 
they  looked  over  the  Avhole  ground  and  gave  attention  to  every 
principle  of  public  policy  that  could  affect  the  future  welfare 
of  the  north-west. 

In  tracing  to  its  origin  this  important  provision,  it  will  be 
found  that  there  were  at  that  time  two  sources  from  which  it 
w^as  probably  derived.  One  was  the  Ohio  Company  of  Asso- 
ciates :  the  other,  the  statesmen  who  at  that  time  controlled 
the  policy  of  Virginia.  Evidences  of  the  cordial  co-operation 
of  these  parties  abound  in  the  course  of  this  narrative. 

In  this  matter  of  free  and  unrestricted  commercial  inter- 
course, these  relations  were  very  intimate.  The  Ohio  valley 
promised  to  be  the  "back  country,"  the  support  to  Virginia 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler.  357 

seaports.  To  secure  the  benefits  of  this  inland  commerce,  she 
was  at  the  time  actually  engaged  in  a  system  of  internal  im- 
provements looking  to  that  end.  For  several  years  after  the 
first  settlement,  Alexandria  was  the  entrepot  of  the  valley. 
That  all  this  was  anticipated,  both  by  the  projectors  of  the 
Ohio  Company  and  their  Virginia  supporters,  will  appear 
from  frequent  allusion  to  the  subject  by  both  parties. 

In  his  efforts  to  procure  subscribers  to  the  funds  of  the  Ohio 
Company.  Dr.  Cutler  found  it  necessary  to  prepare  and  circulate 
a  pamphlet  [see  Appendix\  descriptive  of  the  new  country. 
Referring  to  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela  Rivers,  he  says  : 
"  These  two  sources  of  the  Ohio  are  large,  navigable  streams  ; 
the  former,  flowing  from  the  south-east,  leaves  but  thirty  miles 
portage  from  tlie  navigable  waters  of  the  Potomac,  in  Vir- 
ginia ;  the  latter  opens  a  passage  from  the  north-east,  and 
rises  not  far  from  the  headwaters  of  the  Susquehanna.  The 
State  of  Pennsylvania  has  already  adopted  the  plan  of  open- 
ing a  navigation  from  the  Allegheny  River  to  the  City  of 
Philadelphia  through  the  Susquehanna  and  the  Delaware. 
In  this  route  there  will  be  a  portage  of  only  twenty-four 
miles." 

He  speaks  of  the  Muskingum  as  a  "  gentle  river, 
navigable  by  large  bateaux  and  barges  to  the  Three  Legs,  and 
by  small  streams  to  the  lake  at  its  head.  From  thence,  by  a 
portage  of  about  one  mile,  a  communication  is  opened  to  Lake 
Erie  through  the  Cuyahoga."  He  speaks  of  the  portage  at 
the  head  of  the  Scioto,  to  connect  with  the  Sandusky,  as 
"  only  four  miles." 

"The  communication  between  this  country  and  the  sea  will 
be  principally  in  the  four  following  directions  : 

"'1.  The  route  through  the  Scioto  and  Muskingum  to  Lake 
Erie  and  the  Hudson. 

"  2.  The  passage  up  the  Ohio  and  Monongahela  to  the  portage 
above  mentioned,  which  leads  to  the  navigable  waters  of  the 
Potomac.  This  portage  is  thirty  miles,  and  will  probably  be 
rendered  much  less  by  the  execution  of  the  plans  now  on  foot 
for  opening  the  navigation  of  these  waters. 

"  3.  The  Great  Kanawha,  which  falls  into  the  Ohio  from  the 
Virginia  shore  between  the  Hockhocking  and  the  Scioto,  opens 


358  Life  of  Hev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

an  extensive  navigation  from  the  south-east  and  leaves  but 
eighteen  miles  portage  from  the  navigable  waters  of  James 
River,  in  Virginia." 

The  fourth  channel  referred  to  was  the  current  of  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  Rivers. 

The  only  means  then  in  use  for  prosecuting  the  internal 
commerce  of  the  country,  which  was  mainly  the  peltry  trade, 
was  by  ascending  water-courses  as  far  as  the  depth  of  water 
would  allow  in  lightly-built  canoes,  then  transferring  the 
freight  across  a  divide  to  a  similar  stream  running  in  an  oppo- 
site direction.  This  accounts  for  the  use  of  the  phrase  "  car- 
rying-places" in  the  Ordinance.  Dr.  Cutler  designates  them 
as  "  portages."  It  is  thus  quite  evident  that  he  was  familiar 
Avith  this  mode  of  transportation,  and  the  strong  probability 
is  that  he  was  careful  to  secure  its  absolute  freedom  in  the 
Ordinance.  To  his  associates  it  was  a  matter  of  great  im- 
portance. 

General  Putnam,  in  his  letter  to  Fisher  Ames  (see  Appen- 
dix), alludes  to  this  subject :  "And  there  is  not  the  least  doubt 
but,  when  the  navigation  of  the  Potomack  is  completed  with 
the  carrying-place  to  the  Monongahela,  according  to  the  plan 
of  the  undertakers,  the  transport  of  goods  into  the  western 
country  will  be  lowered  fifty  per  cent."  It  will  be  observed 
that  General  Putnam  uses  the  phrase  "  carrying-place,"  as 
connected  with  "  the  plan  of  the  undertakers."  Under  date 
of  March  8,  1785,  Colonel  Pickering,  in  a  letter  to  Rufus- 
King,  refers  to  this  subject :  "  Water  communication  in  that 
country  will  always  be  in  the  highest  degree  interesting  to  its 
inhabitants.  It  seems  very  necessary  to  secure  the  freedom 
of  navigating  the  rivers  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  all  the  states. 
I  hope  we  shall  have  no  Scheldts  in  that  country." 

The  foregoing  extracts  show  clearly  enough  that  this  idea  of 
free  commercial  intercourse  was  cherished  by  the  projectors 
of  the  Ohio  Company  from  its  earliest  inception  to  its  con- 
summation. 

It  is  proper  now  to  notice  the  attitude  of  the  other  parties, 
who,  at  that  time,  were  especiall}^  interested  in  the  subject. 

In  a  letter  to  Colonel  Humphreys,  dated  July  25,  1785, 
General  Washington  expresses  his  views  as  follows  :  "  My  at- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  359 

tention  is  more  immediately  engaged  in  a  project  which,  I 
think,  big  with  great  political  as  Avell  as  commercial  conse- 
quences to  the  states,  especially  the  middle  ones ;  it  is,  by  re- 
moving the  obstructions  and  extending  the  inland  navigation 
of  our  rivers,  to  bring  the  states  on  the  Atlantic  in  close 
connection  with  those  forming  to  the  westward,  by  a  short  and 
easy  transportation.''* 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Jefferson,  dated  January  1,  1788,  he  dis- 
cusses "  the  practicability  of  opening  a  communication  be- 
tween Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio." 

In  a  letter,  dated  January  10,  1788,  to  Richard  Butler,  who 
was  acting  as  agent  among  the  Indians,  he  requests  specific 
information  on  the  following  points  : 

"  1.  What  is  the  face  of  the  country  between  the  sources  or 
canoe  navigation  of  the  Cuyahoga,  which  empties  itself  into 
Lake  Erie  and  the  Big  Beaver,  and  between  the  Cuyahoga  and 
the  Muskingum  ? 

"  2.  The  distance  between  the  waters  of  the  Cuyahoga  and 
each  of  the  two  rivers  above  mentioned? 

"  3.  Would  it  be  practicable,  and  not  very  expensive,  to  cut 
a  canal  between  the  Cuyahoga  and  either  of  the  above  rivers, 
so  as  to  open  a  communication  between  the  waters  of  Lake 
Erie  and  the  Ohio  ? 

"  4.  Whether  there  is  any  more  direct,  practicable,  and  easy 
communication  than  these,  between  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie 
and  those  of  the  Ohio,  by  which  the  fur  and  peltry  trade  of 
the  upper  country  can  be  transported  ?"f 

These  extracts  could  be  multiplied  largely,  all  showing  the 
very  great  interest  felt  by  Washington  at  that  time  in  secur- 
ing the  trade  of  the  west  to  the  seaports  of  his  own  state. 
His  letter  to  Governor  Harrison,  October  10,  1784,  presents  a 
comprehensive  view  of  the  whole  subject  •,%  and  his  acceptance 
of  the  charge  of  the  work  of  improving  the  Potomac  is  evi- 
dence of  the  great  personal  interest  he  felt  in  developing  the 
commercial  interests   of  Virginia.     A  marked   feature   in   all 


*Sparks,  Vol    IX.,  p.  114.  f  Sparks,  Vol.  IX.,  p.  303. 

J  Sparks,  Vol.  IX.,  p.  58. 


360  Life  of  Rev.  Manassch  Cutler. 

this  is  the  coincidence  of  views  between  those  who  represented 
the  interests  of  the  Ohio  Company  and  their  old  Commander-in- 
Chief,  and  clearly  shoAvs  a  co-operation  of  interests  that  had 
its  full  influence  in  laying  the  foundations  of  future  prosperity 
in  the  Great  Valley.  In  all  this,  Massachusetts  and  Virginia 
worked  kindly  and  efficiently  together.  There  were  no  per- 
sonal antagonisms  in  the  way.  Local  and  sectional  prefer- 
ences and  jealousies  gave  way  to  the  attainment  of  a  com- 
mon object.  That  object  was  a  grand  one,  and  was  shared 
alike  by  themselves  and  all  others  of  the  sisterhood  of  states. 

Another  inquiry  presents  itself  in  connection  with  the  in- 
fluence that  was  exerted  by  the  Ohio  Company  and  its  Agent 
upon  those  features  of  the  Ordinance  of  1787  Avhich  asserted 
and  put  into  active  exercise  the  powers  and  duties  of  a  nation, 
as  distinguished  from  "  independent  and  sovereign  states." 

The.  "Articles  of  Confederation,"  simply  organized  separate 
and  independent  colonies  or  states  into  a  Confederacy.  This 
Confederacy  could  exercise  only  such  power  as  was  specially 
granted  to  it  by  the  states.  This  power  rested  with  the 
"  United  States  in  Congress  assembled."  The  power  granted 
and  duties  imposed  referred  mainly  to  the  exigencies  of  the 
great  struggle  for  Independence.  The  Confederac}^  could 
issue  a  currency,  based  upon,  promises  to  pay,  but  had  no 
power  to  levy  and  collect  taxes  as  a  basis  of  "  public  credit." 

This  poverty  of  resources  drove  them  very  early  to  cast 
about  for  something  on  which  to  found  a  "  credit."  The  only 
object  within  reach  was  the  vast  interior,  the  real  estate  em- 
braced in  the  Territory  North-west  of  the  Ohio  River. 

It  is  a  matter  of  considerable  interest  to  trace  briefly  the 
action  of  Congress  on  the  subject,  which  resulted  in  asserting 
and  exercising  the  power  of  a  sovereign  over  this  "  vacant 
territory ;"  and  in  doing  it  they  went  beyond  any  authority 
conferred  by  the  Articles  of  Confederation.  It  will  be  found 
that  the  first  exercise  of  a  sovereign  power  over  that  territory 
was  in  the  sale  of  a  large  tract  to  the  Ohio  Company,  and  in 
the  passage  of  the  ordinance  for  its  government,  both  parts  of 
the  same  transaction,  and  controlled  by  the  same  influences. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1780,  the  Committee,  to  Avhom 
were  referred  the  instructions  of  Maryland  to  their  delegates 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  361 

in  Congress  and  a  remonstrance  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  declines  to  examine  into  the  claims  of  Virginia  to 
the  "  Western  Country,"  but  urges  "  a  liberal  surrender  of  a 
portion  of  their  territorial  claims,"  and  reminds  them  how  "  in- 
dispensably necessary  it  is  to  establish  the  Federal  Union  on 
a  fixed  and  permanent  basis,  and  on  principles  acceptable  to 
all  its  members ;  how  essential  to  public  credit  and  confidence, 
to  the  support  of  our  own  army,  to  the  vigor  of  our  counsels, 
and  to  the  success  of  our  measures,  to  our  tranquillity  at 
home,  our  reputation  abroad,  to  our  very  existence  as  a  free, 
sovereign,  and  independent  people,"  that  the  "  impediment  aris- 
ing from  the  western  country  "  should  be  removed.  Maryland 
had  urged  "  that  Virginia,  by  selling  on  the  most  moderate 
terms  a  small  proportion  of  the  lands  in  question,  would  draw 
into  her  treasury  vast  sums  of  money  ;  and  in  proportion  to 
the  sums  arising  from  such  sales,  would  be  enabled  to  lessen 
her  taxes."  She  also  asserted  the  view  v>'hich,  in  the  end,  was 
accepted  :  "  We  are  convinced  that  policy  and  justice  require 
that  a  country  unsettled  at  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
claimed  by  the  British  crown,  and  ceded  to  it  by  the  treaty  of 
Paris,  if  wrested  from  the  common  enemy  by  the  blood  and 
treasure  of  the  thirteen  states,  should  be  considered  a  com- 
mon property,  subject  to  be  parceled  out  by  Congress  into 
free,  convenient,  and  independent  governments,  in  such  man- 
ner and  at  such  times  as  the  w^isdom  of  that  assembly  shall 
hereafter  direct." 

On  September  8, 1782,  a  Grand  Committee,  composed  of  one 
from  each  state,  reported  the  following  as  one  of  several  prop- 
ositions :  "  That  it  is  their  opinion  that  the  Western  lands,  if 
ceded  to  the  United  States,  might  contribute  toward  a  fund 
for  the  paying  the  debts  of  these  states." 

The  following  was  offered  by  Mr.  Witherspoon  as  a  substi- 
tute :  "  That  if  the  several  states  claiming  the  exclusive  prop- 
erty of  the  Western  lands  would  make  cessions  of  them  to  the 
United  States,  it  would  be  an  important  fund  for  the  discharge 
of  the  National  debt."  This  change  from  "  debts  of  these 
states "  to  "  national  debt,"  indicates  an  advance  toward 
nationality ;  and,  in  connection  with  the  "  Western  lands,"  is 
^'■public  credit,"  as  based  on  a  common  property. 


362  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

On  the  24tli  of  April,  1783,  a  Committee,  consisting  of 
Messrs.  Madison,  Ellsworth,  and  Hamilton,  refer  to  the  "na- 
tional debt,"  and  state  their  reliance  for  its  extinguishment 
to  be  upon  "'  vacant  territory." 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1783,  Mr.  Carroll  offered  a 
proposition  asserting  that :  "  The  United  States  have  succeeded 
to  the  sovereignty  over  the  western  territory,  and  are  thereby 
vested  as  one  undivided  and  independent  nation  with  all  and 
every  power  and  right  exercised  by  tlie  King  of  Great  Britain 
over  said  Territory."  He  also  asserts  that  this  territory,  "  if 
properly  managed,  Avill  enable  the  United  States  to  comply 
with  their  promises  of  land  to  their  officers  and  soldiers ;  will 
relieve  their  citizens  from  much  weight  of  taxation ;  will  be  a 
means  of  restoring  national  credit ;  and  if  cast  into  new 
states,  will  tend  to  increase  the  happiness  of  mankind,  by  ren- 
dering the  purchase  of  land  easy,  and  the  possession  of  lib- 
erty permanent."  This  sounds  very  much  like  a  Declaration 
of  Nationality.,  based  upon  a  sovereign  right  over  a  vast  do- 
main, to  be  used  for  common  benefit,  and  governed  as  "  one 
undivided  and  independent  nation." 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1784,  a  Grand  Committee  report: 
"  That  Congress  still  consider  vacant  territory  as  a  capital  re- 
source ;  and  this,  too,  is  the  time  when  our  confederacy,  with 
all  the  territory  included  within  its  limits,  should  assume  its 
ultimate  and  permanent  form." 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  just  what  was  meant  by 
"  its  ultimate  and  permanent  form."  Was  this  another  finger- 
board pointing  to  nationality^  in  connection  with  vacant  terri- 
tory .^ 

The  Resolutions  for  a  form  of  government,  reported  by 
Messrs.  Jefferson,  Howell,  and  Chase,  were  adopted  April  23, 
1784.  While  they  were  under  discussion,  Mr.  Read,  of  South 
Carolina,  offered  the  following  proposition  :  "  That,  until  such 
time  as  the  settlers  aforesaid  shall  have  adopted  the  constitution 
and  laws  of  some  one  of  the  original  states  as  aforesaid  for  a 
temporary  government,  the  said  settlers  shall  be  ruled  by 
magistrates  to  be,  appointed  by  the  United  States  in  Congress 
assembled,  and  under  such  laws  and  regulations  as  the  United 
States  in  Congress  assembled  shall  direct."     This  was  a  clear 


Life  of  Rev.  JfJanasseh  Cutler.  363 

and  distinct  assertion  of  a  sovereign  right,  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  to  govern  the  settlers 
prior  to  their  adoption  of  a  constitution  ;  but  it  was  voted 
down,  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  alone  voting  for  it. 
But  the  following  proposition,  offered  by  Mr.  Geri-y,  was 
adopted :  "  That  measures  not  inconsistent  with  the  principles 
of  the  Confederation,  and  necessary  for  the  preservation  of 
peace  and  good  order  among  the  settlers  in  any  of  the 
said  new  states,  until  they  assume  a  temporary  government  as 
aforesaid,  may,  from  time  to  time,  be  taken  by  the  United 
States  in  Congress  assembled."  Aside  from  this  modified  and 
partial  expression  of  Congressional  sovereignty,  the  Resolu- 
tions of  April  23,  1784,  placed  the  exercise  of  governmental 
powers  in  the  hands  of  the  settlers,  restricted  only  by  the  six 
articles  of  a  compact. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1785,  Congress  passed  "An  Ordinance 
for  ascertaining  the  mode  of  disposing  of  lands  in  the  Western 
Territory."  This  was  dealing  with  the  lands  as  property. 
Congress  assumed  and  exercised  a  right  of  applying  a  system 
of  surveys  and  sales,  but  the  rights  of  ownership  were  not 
fully  asserted.  Deeds  were  to  be  made  out  by  the  loan  officers 
of  the  different  states  as  real  proprietors.  An  exception  was 
made  to  this  rule  in  cases  of  military  claimants  not  belonging 
to  the  line  of  any  state,  and  of  claimants  from  the  hospital 
department.  In  those  cases,  deeds  were  made  out  by  the  Sec- 
retary of  War.  Congress  also  reserved  "  one-seventh  for  the ' 
use  of  the  late  continental  army;"  also,  "Four  lots,  8,  11,  26, 
and  29,  out  of  each  Township,  for  the  United  States ;"  also  set 
apart  section  sixteen  for  schools,  and  reserved  "  one-third  of 
all  gold,  silver,  lead,  and  copper  mines,"  to  be  disposed  of  "  as 
Congress  shall  direct." 

The  remaining  lands  were  to  be  drawn  for  in  the  names  of 
the  several  states  in  the  proportions  of  their  late  previous  re- 
quisitions, and  were  to  be  advertised  for  sale  at  the  Court- 
houses in  every  County,  and  in  one  newspaper  in  each  state. 
Payments  were  to  be  made  to  the  several  loan  officers  of  the 
states,  and  Deeds  Avere  to  be  made  out  by  them  to  the  pur- 
chaser. 

By  a  Resolution  of  April  21,  1787,  it  was  provided  that  the 


364  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

lands  should  be  advertised  in  at  least  one  of  the  newspapers 
of  each  state  ;  the  sale  to  be  made  "  in  the  place  where  Con- 
gress shall  sit;"  the  purchase-money  to  be  paid  "to  the 
Treasurer  of  the  said  States  ;"  and  "  titles  to  the  lands  shall 
be  given  to  the  'purchasers  by  the  board  of  Treasurj^'"' 

In  all  these  expressions  of  congressional  policy,  there  can 
be  traced  an  approach  toward  the  full  exercise  of  national 
rights  over  this  "  common  propcriij.''^  It  was  evidently  a  period 
of  transition,  during  which  the  ideas  and  policies  of  state 
rights,  as  they  had  been  cherished  in  the  past,  were  yielding 
to  the  necessities  and  demands  of  a  Union  that  Avould  give 
strength,  security,  and  perpetuity  to  a  Nation. 

The  next  important  action  of  Congress  or  expression  of 
opinion  upon  this  important  subject  is  found  in  the  passage  of 
the  ordinance  of  July  13, 1787,  and  of  ordinances  subsequently 
adopted,  for  the  sale  of  lands  to  the  Ohio  Company.  In  the 
governmental  ordinance,  the  principles  asserted  by  Mr.  Read, 
in  his  proposed  amendment  to  the  resolution  of  April  23j  1784, 
"  that  the  settlers  should  be  ruled  by  magistrates  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  United  States,"  and  "  under  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  Congress  shall  direct,"  were  in  effect  adopted. 
The  Governor,  Secretar}^,  Judges,  and  Council  received  their 
appointments  and  pay  either  directly  or  indirectly  from  Con- 
gress, who  also  reserved  a  veto  power.  The  qualifications  of 
Electors  are  fixed  by  Congress,  and  so  restricted  as  to  favor 
the  continuance  of  political  power  in  the  hands  of  permanent 
residents.  A  fully  organized  form  of  government,  with  a  Bill 
of  Rights,  was  imposed  by  the  sovereign  power  upon  the  vacant 
territory.  The  contract  for  sale  of  a  large  tract  of  the  lands 
to  the  Ohio  Company  was  made  in  direct  violation  of  the  ordi- 
nance of  May  20,  1785,  although  that  ordinance  was  in  force 
at  the  time  and  remained  so  until  July  9, 1788.  In  the  sale  to 
the  Ohio  Company,  the  system  of  surveys  was  retained,  but 
the  "  state  rio;hts  "  feature  Avas  iujnored.  The  Deed  or  Patent 
for  tlic  whole  tract,  as  well  as  the  contract  of  purchase,  came 
directly  from  the  United  States,  and  the  purchase-money  paid 
to  them. 

Without  claiming  that  the  individual  opinions  or  efforts  of 
the  Associates  composing  the  Ohio  Company  actually  brought 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  365 

about  this  first  application  of  Congressional  Sovereignty  over 
the  vast  interior,  it  is  a  reasonable  supposition  that  their  influ- 
ence "would  be  exerted  in  that  direction.  So  far  as  the  land 
purchase  is  concerned,  it  never  would  have  been  made  under 
the  provisions  of  the  ordinance  of  May  20,  1785.  The  Asso- 
ciates certainly  would  not  have  undertaken  to  deal  with  thirteen 
different  proprietors,  attended  auction  sales,  or  accepted  alter- 
nate townships. 

The  amount  of  land  required  by  the  Ohio  Company,  in  order 
to  carry  out  their  scheme,  was  quite  equal  to  the  entire  area 
of  the  Seven  Ranges,  so  that  Congress  was  compelled  to  assume 
the  control  of  this  "  common  property,"  make  terms  entirely 
independent  of  the  states,  or  lose  a  most  favorable  opportunity 
for  disposing  of  its  vacant  territory.  It  was  just  as  necessary 
to  yield  to  the  wishes  and  plans  of  the  "  associates  "  in  the 
governmental  system  that  was  to  be  imposed  upon  their  future 
homes,  as  it  was  to  meet  their  views  in  regard  to  land  purchase. 
In  both  respects,  then,  was  harmony  of  action,  and  it  was  an 
important  advance  toward  that  "time"  anticipated  by  the 
Grand  Committee  of  April  5,  1784,  "when  our  Confederacy, 
with  all  the  territory  included  vfithin  its  limits,  should  assume 
its  ultimate  and  permanent  form." 

The  dream  of  the  officers,  as  expressed  in  the  Petition  of 
June,  1783,  that  their  "  new  state  westAvard  of  the  Ohio  River 
might  form  a  part  of  and  be  of  lasting  consequence  to  the 
American  Empire,"  was  becoming  a  reality. 

It  was  at  this  stage  of  Congressional  action  that  Dr.  Cutler 
indulged  in  the  "  sublime  contemplation  of  beholding  the 
whole  territory  of  the  United  States  settled  by  an  enlightened 
people  and  continued  under  one  government."  The  supple- 
mentary ordinance  of  July  9, 1788,  brushed  away  the  last  rem- 
nant of  "  states'  rights  "  in  a  common  property,  by  repealing 
so  much  of  the  ordinance  of  May  20,  1785,  as  required  the 
lands  to  "  be  drawn  for  in  the  names  of  the  Thirteen  States 
respectively,"  and  the  sales  to  be  made  by  the  loan  offices. 

A  leading  motive  with  Dr.  Cutler  in  demanding  a  clear  as- 
sertion of  Congressional  sovereignty  at  that  time  over  the  west- 
ern country  may  be  found  in  tlie  following  extract  from  his 
journal :  "  The  uneasiness  of  the  Kentucky  people  with  respect 


366  Life  of  Rev.  llanasseh  Cutler. 

to  the  Mississippi  was  notorious.  A  revolt  of  that  country 
from  the  Union,  if  a  Avar  Avith  Spain  took  place,  Avas  universally 
acknoAvledged  to  be  highly  probable ;  and  most  certainly  a 
systematic  settlement  of  that  country,  conducted  by  men 
strongly  attached  to  the  Federal  government,  and  composed  of 
young,  robust,  hardy,  and  active  laborers,  Avho  had  no  idea  of 
any  other  than  the  Federal  government,  I  conceive  to  be  an 
object  Avorthy  of  some  attention." 

This  fact  of  the  "  uneasiness  of  the  Kentucky  people  "  is 
clearly  stated  by  Greneral  Washington  in  his  correspondence 
with  Governor  Harrison  and  others. 

With  these  vicAvs  on  the  part  of  the  Agent  of  the  Asso- 
ciates, it  is  very  clear  that,.  Avhile  they  had  no  thought  of  any 
other  than  the  Federal  Government  for  themselves,  they  Avere 
not  safe  unless  that  government  should  assert  and  exercise  a 
rightful  sovereignty  over  a  territory  that  Avas  liable  to  be  dis- 
turbed by  schemes  of  secession. 

In  venturing  out  into  the  Avilderness,  they  Avanted  that 
question  settled  in  advance,  not  only  by  an  abstract  declara- 
tion that  the  territory  should  ahvays  remain  as  part  of  the 
United  States,  but  by  well-defined  poAvers  that  Avould  be  put 
into  immediate  exercise.  They  did  not  intend  to  secede,  or 
set  up  an  independent  government  for  themselvos,  and  they 
were  unwilling  that  others  should  disturb  their  peaceful  plans 
by  any  such  attempt. 

Another  feature  of  the  Ordinance  is  worthy  of  notice  as  con- 
nected Avith  Dr.  Cutler's  negotiations  for  a  large  purchase  of 
land.  The  Ohio  Company  had  no  charter,  although  it  Avas  -the 
intention  of  its  originators  to  procure  an  Act  of  Incorporation 
from  one  of  the  states  or  from  Congress.  The  land  purchase 
Avas  therefore  a  privafe  contract.  The  folloAving  provisions  in  . 
the  Ordinance  may  be  regarded  as  a  full  equivalent  for  a  pub- 
lic charter  :  "And  in  the  just  preservation  of  rights  and  prop- 
erty it  is  understood  and  declared,  that  no  laAv  ought  ever  to 
be  made  or  have  force  in  said  territoi'y  that  shall  in  any  man- 
ner Avhatever  interfere  Avith  or  affect  private  contracts  or  en- 
gagements bona  fide  and  Avithout  fraud  previously  formed." 

That   Dr.  Cutler  regarded  his  land   purchase  as   a  private 
contract  is  very  evident  from  an  entry  in  his  Journal,  October 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  367 

26,  1787,  when  lie  paid  out  over  $500,000  to  the  Board  of 
Treasury.  He  says  it  Avas  "  the  greatest  j97'u'a/e  contract  ever 
made  in  America." 

This  provision  was  not  only  important  to  the  Ohio  Company 
in  their  relations  to  Government,  but  they  were  entering  upon 
an  extensive  system  of  disposing  of  real  estate  belonging  to 
individual  share-holders  through  agencies.  This  double  pro- 
cess of  transmitting  title  suggested  the  necessity  of  a. positive 
protection  coming  from  a  sovereign  power,  not  leaving  it  to 
the  uncertainties  of  local  legislation.  The  following  is  an  ex- 
tract from  a  letter  written  by  R.  H.  Lee  to  Washington,  under 
date  of  July  15,  1787,  two  days  after  the  passage  of  the  Ordi- 
nance, and  consequently  at  a  time  when  the  whole  subject  was 
fresh  in  his  mind.  He  says  :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  to 
you  an  Ordinance  that  we  have  just  passed  in  Congress,  for 
establishing  a  temporary  government  beyond  the  Ohio,  as  a 
measure  preparatory  to  the  sale  of  lands.  It  seemed  neces- 
sary for  the  security  of  property  among  uninformed  and 
perhaps  licentious  people,  as  the  greater  part  of  those  who  go 
there  are,  that  a  strong-toned  government  should  exist  and 
the  rights  of  property  be  clearly  defined."  (Dr.  Loring's  Ad- 
dress, April  7,  1883.) 

R.  H.  Lee  was  Dr.  Cutler's  friend  and  most  intimate  adviser, 
who  promised  him  "  an  hour's  speech."  He  undoubtedly  re- 
flected the  prevailing  feeling  in  Congress,  and  it  is  quite  evident 
that  a  '■'■  strong -toned"  government  was  intended  to  be  formed 
by  the  passage  of  the  Ordinance.  It  is  also  evident  that  this 
strong-toned  government  was  organized  "  as  a  measure  prepar- 
atory to  the  sale  of  lands."  He  says,  "  and  the  rights  of  prop- 
erty he  clearly  defined."  This  suited  Dr.  Cutler's  wants,  and 
not  only  made  up  for  the  lack  of  a  public  charter,  but  was  a 
protection  to  the  Associates  in  their  manner  of  distributing 
lands  among  share-holders.  It  was  to  them  a  ^'■just  preserva- 
tion of  rights  and  property." 

Looking  over  the  situation  as  presented  at  that  time,  and 
giving  proper  weight  to  motives  of  greatest  urgency,  it  may 
be  fairly  claimed  that  principles  of  Congressional  or  National 
Sovereignty,  as  well  as  a  careful  enumeration  of  rights  in  their 
broadest  application,  including  full  and  even  exceptional  guar- 


368  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

anties  to  the  "  rigJifs  of  ijroperty,'''  were  incorporated  into  the 
organic  law  at  the  instance  of  an  Agent  who  was  the  guardian 
and  conservator  of  the  interests,  not  onh'  of  a  living  constit- 
uency, but  of  a  waiting  posterity. 

It  is  not  intended,  by  this  effort  to  trace  out  Dr.  Cutler's 
connection  with  some  of  the  leading  ideas  of  the  Ordinance, 
to  detract  from  the  services  of  the  wise  and  able  men  who  had 
the  subject  in  charge  as  legislators.  The  records  are  too  mea- 
ger to  afford  full  evidence  of  the  participation  of  individual 
members  of  Congress.  Light  from  outside  sources  must  be 
sought.  Grayson,  in  his  letter  to  Pickering,  says  that  "forty 
volumes  "  would  not  contain  the  discussion  upon  the  land  sys- 
tem. These  discussions  doubtless  extended  to  the  plans  for 
government  as  well  as  surveying. 

After  Dr.  Cutler's  arrival  in  New  York,  all  previous  labors 
in  the  Avay  of  a  form  of  government  for  the  territory  seem  to 
have  been  brushed  aside,  a  new  system  presented,  then  new- 
modeled,  his  own  ideas  incorporated,  and  finally  passed  unan- 
imously. The  scheme  of  settlemxcnt  itself  was  a  broad  and 
comprehensive  one,  covering  the  whole  ground  of  a  permanent 
occupation  of  that  distant  Avilderness  in  the  interests  of  a 
Christian  civilization,  of  republican  institutions  founded  upon 
the  rights  of  man  and  supported  by  every  civil  and  political 
safeguard. 

Up  to  the  time  of  Dr.  Cutler's  arrival  in  New  York,  the 
labors  of  Congress  had  brought  forth  abstractions  and  skele- 
tons,  mere  outlines.  It  is  not  improbable  that  the  presenta- 
tion of  a  scheme  of  settlement,  such  as  had  "never  before 
been  attempted  in  America,"  aroused  the  zeal  and  stimulated 
the  efforts  of  Congress  in  a  more  practical  direction,  and  led 
to  the  adoption  of  acceptable  lines  of  policy  in  organizing  the 
"  new  state  "  that  had  been  so  long  the  dream  of  an  army  by 
Avhose  valor  and  sacrifices  the  territory  had  been  acquired. 
That  the  organic  laAV  should  have  been  new-modeled,  and  made 
acceptable  to  the  men  who  were  ready  to  occupy  and  cultivate 
that  distant  territory,  is  not  surprising. 

It  may  be  claimed  for  the  Ordinance  itself,  that  it  is  the 
only  instance  in  human  history  (Avith  a  single  exception)  Avhere 
the  laws   and   constitutions  have  been  prepared   beforehand, 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  369 

pre-arranged,  and  projected  into  a  territory  prior  to  its  occu- 
pation by  its  future  inhnbitants.  The  Divine  economy  did  so 
arrange,  pre-ordain,  and  publish  to  His  chosen  people  the  law, 
ordinance,  and  polity  that  was  to  govern  them  after  they  had 
entered  their  promised  land ;  but,  throughout  the  many 
changes,  migrations,  and  conquests  under  which  the  human 
race  has  spread  itself  over  and  occupied  the  earth,  either  the 
will  of  the  conqueror  after  conquest  and  occupation,  or  the 
growth  of  governmental  principles  subsequently,  has  been  the 
origin  of  political  and  civil  institutions.  Here,  however,  is  an 
attempt  to  prepare  beforehand  forms  of  government,  laws,  and 
principles  upon  bases  that  were  intended  to  remain  forever 
unalterable.  We  now  have  a  century  to  attest  their  intrinsic 
value.  Not  the  least  valuable  part  of  this  wise  forecast  and 
preparation  Avas  that  provision  reaching  down  to  the  virgin 
soil,  that  gave  absolute  ownership  of  it  in  convenient  quanti- 
ties and  on  terms  that  secured  to  each  person  an  opportunity 
to  acquire  a  homestead  of  his  own,  with  provision  for  those 
civil  divisions,  townships,  where  the  "  essence  of  ownership," 
control,  could  be  exerted  politically  in  all  the  important  social 
and  civil  affairs  of  life. 

Upon  this  foundation,  guaranties  of  human  rights,  in  their 
broadest  application,  with  equality  before  the  law,  were  intro- 
duced into  the  governmental  structure.  In  addition  to  these 
elements  of  future  stability,  the  educational  and  moral  forces 
are  distinctly  recognized  and  incorporated  into  the  founda- 
tions. Freedom  of  worship,  without  governmental  control,  di- 
rection, or  patronage ;  liberty,  religion,  morality,  and  knowledge 
— all  stand  side  by  side  with  the  right  of  jury  trial,  habeas  cor- 
pus,  inviolability  of  private  contracts,  and  all  other  usual  and 
essential  safeguards.  They  were  not  inserted  as  vague  and 
abstract  declarations,  but  the  obligation  was  imposed  to  give 
them  support  and  encouragement. 

The  following  general  conclusions  may  fairly  be  drawn  from 
the  foregoing  statement  of  the  situation  as  connected  with  the 
formation  of  the  Ordinance  of  July  13, 1787,  "  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  north-west  of  the  river  Ohio  :" 

1.  The  officers  of  the  army  who  originated  the  scheme  for 
24 


370  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler: 

the  permanent  occupation  of  the  Ohio  valley  had  distinctly  in 
vieAV  from  its  inception  the  idea  of  a  "  new  state." 

2.  They  entertained  very  positive  views  in  regard  to  the 
organic  principles  upon  which  their  "  intended  government '' 
shovild  be  founded. 

3.  The  total  prohibition  of  slavery  and  encouragement  to 
education  were  considered  as  essential. 

4.  They  organized  the  "  Ohio  Company  of  Associates '"'  for 
the  purpose  of  carrying  into  effect  these  long  cherished  objects 
connected  with  future  homes. 

5.  They  placed  their  application  for  the  purchase  of  lands 
in  the  hands  of  an  Agent  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  prevailing  views  of  his  constituents,  with  unrestricted 
authority  to  act  in  his  negotiations  with  Congress  for  their 
best  interests. 

6.  The  personal  views  of  the  Agent  were  in  harmony  with 
those  of  the  men  he  undertook  to  represent. 

7.  He  kept  steadily  in  view  the  two  great  objects  of  his 
mission ;  one  was  to  procure  lands  upon  terms  that  would  be 
acceptable  to  the  Associates ;  the  other,  to  secure  such  organic 
law  as  would  make  the  new  state  a  congenial  home  for  himself 
and  his  neighbors. 

8.  In  prosecuting  his  mission  before  Congress,  he  met  with 
a  cordial  co-operation  from  the  Virginia  members,  who  could 
fairly  anticipate  from  the  enterprise  of  the  Ohio  Company 
substantial  advantages  in  the  way  of  protection  to  an  exposed 
western  frontier,  and  great  commercial  advantages  from  a 
body  of  men  who  were  so  well  prepared  to  cultivate  and  de- 
velop the  resources  of  the  Ohio  valley. 

9.  This  friendly  feeling  extended  to  "  members  from  the 
southward,"  and  became  the  occasion  for  a  quiet  relinquish- 
ment of  any  desire  they  may  have  had  for  the  extension  of  the 
institution  of  slavery  over  the  north-west. 

10.  In  securing  a  recognition  of  moral  and  educational 
forces,  good  faith  toward  the  Indians,  the  inviolability  of  pri- 
vate contracts,  and  free  cominercial  intercourse  between  all 
parts  of  a  common  country,  he  not  only  consulted  his  own 
personal  wishes,  but  completed  his  task  to  the  entire  approval 
of  his  associates. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  371 

In  view  of  these  foundations  thus  laid  in  the  beginning,  the 
citizen  of  to-day  has  a  right  to  all  the  benefits  that  come  from 
the  proper  application  of  these  principles.  He  has  a  right  to 
expect  and  demand  a  full  recognition  and  defense  of  his  per- 
sonal rights  ;  he  has  also  a  right  to  expect  and  demand  the 
benefits  resulting  from  restraints  upon  all  immoralities,  as 
also  the  benefits  which  flow  from  the  encouragement  and  sup- 
port of  education. 

All  comers  had  notice  that  the  organic  law  of  the  north- 
west was  intended  to  be  the  basis  of  a  Christian  civilization. 
Religion,  morality,  and  knowledge,  as  well  as  personal  rights, 
are  a  magnificent  inheritance,  belonging  lawfully  to  posterity, 
and  every  adverse  influence  is  an  invasion  of  their  rights. 

[J£o7i.  Nathan  Dane  to  Hon.  Miifics  King.^'-^ 

New  York,  Juli/  16,  1787. 
Dear'  Sir : — I  am  obliged  to  you  for  yours  of  the  11th  inst. 
With  pleasure  I  communicate  to  you  what  we  are  doing  in 
Congress,  not  so  much  from  a  consciousness  that  what  we  do 
is  well  done,  as  from  a  desire  that  you  may  be  acquainted  with 
our  proceedings.  We  have  been  much  engaged  in  business 
for  ten  or  twelve  days  past,  for  a  part  of  which  we  have  had 
8  states.  There  appears  to  be  a  disposition  to  do  business ; 
and  the  arrival  of  R.  H.  Lee  is  of  considerable  importance. 
I  think  his  character  serves,  at  least  in  some  degree,  to  check 
the  efi'ects  of  the  feeble  habits  and  too  [tardy  ?]  modes  of 
thinking  in  some  of  his  countrymen.  We  have  been  employed 
about  several  objects — the  principal  ones  of  which  have  been 
the  Government  inclosed,  and  the  Ohio  Purchase.  The  former 
you  will  see  is  completed,  and  the  latter  will  be  probably  com- 
pleted to-morrow.  We  tried  one  day  to  patch  up  M.  S.  P. 
systems  of  W.  Govern't.  Started  new  ideas,  and  committed 
the  whole  to  Carrington,  Dane,  R.  H.  Lee,  Smith,  and  Kean. 
We  met  several  times,  and  at  last  agreed  on  some  principles, 
at  least  Lee,  Smith,  and  myself.  We  found  ourselves  rather 
pressed ;    the  Ohio  Company  appeared  to   purchase   a    large 

*  From  Neio  I'ork  Tribune. 


372  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

tract  of  the  Federal  lands — about  6  or  7  millions  of  acres ; 
and  we  wanted  to  abolish  the  old  system,  and  get  a  better  one 
for  the  Government  of  the  country — and  we  finally  found  it 
necessary  to  adopt  the  best  system  we  could  get.  All  agreed, 
finally,  to  the  inclosed,  except  A.  Yates.  He  appeared  in  this 
case,  as  in  most  others,  not  to  understand  the  subject  at  all. 
I  think  the  number  of  free  inhabitants,  60,000,  which  are 
requisite  for  the  admission  of  a  new  State  into  the  Confed- 
eracy, is  too  small ;  but,  having  divided  the  whole  territory 
into  three  States,  this  number  appeared  to  me  to  be  less  im- 
portant. Each  State,  in  the  common  course  of  things,  must 
become  important  soon  after  it  shall  have  that  number  of  in- 
habitants. The  Eastern  State  of  the  three  will  probably  be 
the  first,  and  more  important  than  the  rest,  and  will,  no  doubt, 
be  settled  chiefly  by  Eastern  people ;  and  there  is,  I  think, 
full  an  equal  chance  of  its  adopting  Eastern  politics.  When 
I  drew  the  Ordinance,  which  passed  (a  few  Avords  excepted)  as 
I  originally  formed  it,  I  had  no  idea  the  States  would  agree  to 
the  sixth  art.  prohibiting  slavery,  as  only  Massa.  of  the  East- 
ern States  was  present,  and  therefore  umitted  it  in  the  draft ; 
but,  finding  the  House  favorably  disposed  on  this  subject,  after 
we  had  completed -the  other  parts,  I  moved  the  art.,  which  was 
agreed  to  without  opposition.  We  are  in  a  fair  way  to  fix  the 
terms  of  our  Ohio  sale,  etc.;  we  have  been  upon  it  steadily 
three  days.  The  magnitude  of  the  purchase  makes  us  very 
cautious  about  the  terms  of  it,  and  the  security  necessary  to 
insure  the  performance  of  them. 

We  have  directed  the  Board  to  inquire  into  and  report  on 
Hother's  affairs,  etc. 

Massa.  Legisa.  avus  prorogued  the  7th  inst.,  having  con- 
tinued the  Tender  Act,  as  it  is  called,  to  Jan.  1,  1788,  and 
having  passed  no  other  Act  of  importance,  except  what,  I 
presume,  you  have  seen,  respecting  the  raising  of  troops,  and 
the  powers  of  the  Governor  to  pursue  the  rebels,  etc. 

You  ask  me  how  I  like  my  new  colleagues.  Sedgwick,  you 
know,  we  all  esteem,  but  I  fear  he  will  not  make  his  attend- 
ance an  object.  Thatcher  I  am  quite  unacquainted  Avith.  I 
do  not  know  Avhether  Mr.  Otis,  at  his  period  of  life,  and  under 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  373 

his  misfortune,  will  enter  with  vigor  into  Federal  politics.     I 
wish  his  accounts  Avith  the  Union  had  been  settled,  etc. 

Nothing  occurs  worth  particular  notice. 

Your  afFecta.  friend, 

Hon.  Rufus  King,  Esq.  N.  Dane. 

P.  S. — States  present :  Massa.,  N.  Y.,  N.  J.,  Delaware, 
Virga.,  N.  Cara.,  So.  Carolina,  and  Georgia.  Brother  Holton 
is  rather  an  invalid,  is  not  well  able  to  take  an  active  part  in 
business,  but  I  think  supports  pretty  good  eastern  politics. 


374  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Lktters — Diary  of  1788 — Letteii  Fhom  Gexkrai.  Parsons  to  Dh. 
Cutler — Journey  to  the  Muskingum — Rkv.  Daniel  Story — Let- 
ters. 

[Dr.  Cutler  to  General  Putnam,  Butland^ 

Ipswich,  December  3,  1787. 

Dear  Sir : — There  are  two  men  gone  from  us  into  the  West- 
ern Country,  Ebenezer  Porter  and  Nathaniel  Sawyer,  who 
have  subscribed  each  for  one  share  in  our  Company.  Portfir 
has  paid  his  silver  money  part,  and  has  made  provision  for  the 
payment  of  the  securities  here.  Sawyer  has  not  yet  paid  any 
part ;  but  both  of  them  wished,  if  they  found  it  in  their  power, 
to  turn  in  provisions,  or  such  other  articles  as  might  be  wanted 
by  our  Company  in  that  Country,  in  payment  toward  their 
shares.  I  suppose  they  are  either  at  Hannah's  Town  or  Well's 
Mills,  and  will  make  application  to  you  as  soon  as  they  are  in- 
formed of  your  being  in  the  country.  I  Avish  they  may  be 
permitted  to  do  whatever  may  lie  in  their  power  toward  mak- 
ing payment  in  that  country  consistent  with  the  interests  of 
the  Company.  They  will  make,  I  presume,  good  inhabitants ; 
and  the  service  they  have  rendered  to  our  cause,  by  going 
early  into  the  country,  returning,  and  removing  their  families, 
entitles  them  to  as  much  attention  and  lenity  as  "can  be  con- 
sistently given  them. 

When  you  go  to  New  York  I  beg  you  will  not  fail  of  men- 
tioning to  Colonel  Piatt  the  establishment  of  a  channel  for 
conveying  letters  backward  and  forward  from  that  country  to 
this.  It  will  greatly  oblige  the  people  going  into  the  country, 
and  their  friends  here.  And  should  their  accounts  of  the 
country  be  favorable,  it  will  facilitate  the  collection  of  the  re- 
mainder of  the  money,  and  the  obtaining  of  settlers.  The 
mode  I  should  suppose  best,  would  be  to  engage  some  one 
person  in  Philadelphia,  who  would  be  careful  to  forward  the 
packets  to  Colonel  Piatt,  as  early  as  may  be,  free  of  postage. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutlei'.  375 

Colonel  Piatt  to  put  them  on  board  the  Providence  P  ackets 
addressed  to  the  care  of  Major  Corliss,  in  Providence ;  Major 
Corliss  to  forward  them  to  Boston,  to  the  care  of  Colonel  May,* 
or  some  person  toward  the  South-end — perhaps  to  Barrill's, 
near  the  Common,  where  the  western  stages,  and  some  of  the 
eastern,  put  up.  Opportunities  to  send  from  New  York  to 
Providence  are  frequent.  Letters  may  be  sent  from  Provi- 
dence nearly  every  day  in  the  week ;  and,  if  properly  lodged 
in  Boston,  may  be  sent  immediately  eastward  or  westward. 
And  with  the  same  ease  they  may  be  sent  to  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, I  should  think  it  most  eligible  that  the  letters,  in  gen- 
eral, should  not  be  sent  single,  but  in  packets,  and  somewhat 
periodically ;  say,  a  packet  to  be  closed  with  you  on  a  certain 
day,  once  in  a  fortnight,  or  once  a  month,  and  then  embrace 
the  first  opportunity  for  forwarding  it  to  Philadelphia.  In 
Boston  a  packet  may  be  made  up  and  forwarded  in  the  same 
manner. 

It  may  possibly  be  necessary  to  establish  one  of  this  kind  of 
Post  Offices  at  Fort  Pitt.  If  we  can  engage  persons  in  these 
several  places,  who  are  interested  in  our  Company,  they  will 
probably  pay  greater  attention  to  the  matter,  and  we  shall 
avail  ourselves  of  a  ready  mode  of  conveyance  free  of  ex- 
pense. Should  you  approve  of  this  plan,  and  will  make  the  es- 
tablishment at  the  southward,  I  will  take  care  to  engage  Major 
Corliss,  and  some  person  in  Boston.  Should  you  forAvard  let- 
ters from  that  country  before  you  hear  further  from  this 
quarter,  let  them  be  inclosed,  if  you  please,  to  Colonel  May, 

*  Colonel  John  May  was  born  in  Pomfret,  C^onn.,  1743.  He  came  to 
Boston  when  but  a  lad,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  with  his  uncle, 
Colonel  Ephraim  May.  In  1773  he  married  Abigail  May,  his  cousin. 
In  1778  he  was  commissioned  Captain  in  "the  Boston  Regiment  of 
Militia,"  and  was  promoted  through  the  different  grades  to  Colonel. 
As  Major  of  the  regiment,  he  was  in  service  in  Rhode  Island  during 
the  Revolution,  and  won  the  commendation  of  his  superiors.  He  took 
an  active  interest  in  the  Ohio  Company  as  an  Agent,  and  procured  a 
number  of  subscibers  to  its  shares.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  1 788,  and  again 
in  1789.  His  journal  of  these  visits  (with  a  biographical  sketch,  where 
the  facts  here  given  were  obtained)  was  published  by  the  Historical 
and  Philosophical  Society  of  Ohio  in  1873.  Colonel  May  died  in  Bos" 
tun,  in  1812. 


376  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler 

or  to  any  other  person  in  Boston  you  may  think  proper.  Our 
letters  will  be  addressed  to  you,  and  when  the  matter  is  settled 
in  Boston  we  will  inform  you. 

Saying  so  much  about  conveying  letters  reminds  me  of  the 
necessity  of  a  name  for  the  place  where  you  will  reside.  I 
doubt  not  you  will  early  inquire  the  meaning  of  Muskingum, 
or  you  may  meet  with  some  other  name  that  will  be  agreeable. 
At  present,  I  must  confess  I  feel  a  partiality  for  the  name 
proposed  at  Boston,  and  think  it  preferable  to  any  that  has  yet 
been  mentioned.  I  think  that  Adelphia  will,  upon  the  whole, 
be  the  most  eligible.  It  strictly  means  brethren,  and  I  wish  it 
may  ever  be  characteristic  of  the  Ohio  Company. 

Shares  in  our  Company  are  now  in  higher  demand  this  way 
than  at  any  time  before.  I  have  disposed  of  all  assigned  to  me. 
Some  few  will  fail,  but  there  are  others  ready  to  take  them.  I 
have  taken  up  Major  White's,  and  have  delivered  him  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  dollars  more  in  silver,  which  he  has  receipted  to 
me  as  received  on  the  account  of  the  Ohio  Company,  and  prom- 
ised to  deliver  the  same  to  you.  I  hope  to  obtain  more  silver 
money  before  you  go  to  the  westward,  and  shall,  if  possible,  for- 
ward it  to  you  ;  if  not,  shall  embrace  the  first  opportunity  to 
send  it  to  Colonel  Piatt.  The  matter  of  fixing  a  regular  mode 
for  the  passing  of  letters  appears  to  me  of  so  much  importance, 
that  I  wish  to  be  favored  with  a  line  from  you  on  the  subject, 
if  you  have  time,  before  you  go  into  the  country. 

Wishing  you  an  agreeable  tour,  and  success  in  your  busi- 
ness, I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  most  afi^ectionate  friend  and  humble  serv't, 

M.  Cutler. 

My  son  is  gone  on  in  the  Company,  and  I  beg  you  will  be 
so  kind  as  to  pay  some  attention  to  him,  and  give  him  such 
counsel  and  advice  as  you  would  your  own.  I  feel  a  satisfac- 
tion in  the  reflection  that  he  is  under  your  care. 

\_General  Putnam  to  Dr.  Cutler^ 

Adelphia,  3Iay  16,  1788. 
My  Dear  Sir: — Your  favor  of  the  20th  of  February  came 
to  hand  a  few  days  since,  and  I  find  by  its  contents   that   Mr. 
Plummer  has  alarmed  the  people  with  respect  to  the  Indians 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  377 

very  mucli,  and  perhaps  he  is  not  to  blame ;  for  had  I  given 
heed  to  the  opinion,  at  least  the  pretended  opinion,  of  peo- 
ple at  Pittsburgh  and  vicinity,  I  certainly  should  not  have 
come  down  without  an  army  for  my  protection.  However,  we 
made  no  delay  on  that  account.  That  the  Indians  are  dissatis- 
fied, on  account  of  Congress  or  the  Commissioners  of  Congress 
(at  the  several  treaties  which  have  been  holden  with  them) 
considering  these  lands  as  the  property  of  the  United  States, 
in  consequence  of  the  part  the  Indians  took  in  the  war  and 
the  treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  is  true.  They  have 
told  Congress  so  in  a  spirited,  manly  letter  addressed  to  that 
honorable  body  by  Joseph  Brant,  in  which  he  assures  them 
that  unless  these  wrongs  are  redressed,  and  the  lands  fairly 
purchased,  the  Indians  will  certainly  go  to  war  (and  I  believe 
they  will  be  as  good  as  their  word).  In  consequence  of  this 
application  of  Brant,  Congress  has  promised  them  a  treaty, 
which  was  to  have  been  holden  about  this  time  ;  but  I  am  told 
^hat  the  Indians  have  informed  Governor  St.  Clair  that  they 
are  to  hold  a  great  Council  among  themselves  about  the 
middle  of  June,  near  Sandusky.  From  these  circumstances, 
it  is  probable  Governor  St.  Clair  will  not  be  able  to  see  them 
till  July,  when  I  have  no  doubt  every  thing  will  be  settled  to 
general  satisfaction.  At  present,  we  do  not  think  ourselves 
perfectly  secure  from  them,  on  account  of  a  few  lawless  ban- 
dits, made  up  of  Mingos,  Shawnies,  and  Cherokees,  who  reside 
at  present  on  the  waters  of  the  Scioto.  These  are  a  set  of 
thievish,  murdering  rascals  ;  but  from  any  other  quarter  we 
are  under  no  apprehension  at  present.  The  Delawares  and 
Wyandots  visit  us  almost  every  day,  and  appear  very  friendly  ; 
relying  on  it,  as  I  believe,  that  Governor  St.  Clair,  at  the 
treaty,  will  have  power  and  inclination  to  do"  them  complete 
justice. 

You  Avish  to  be  informed  if  it  will  be  prudent  for  families  to 
move  on  in  the  spring  and  summer  ?  I  answer,  by  all  means ; 
for  let  the  treaty  end  how  it  may,  the  sooner  they  come  on  the 
better ;  the  sooner  they  get  in  a  Avay  of  cultivating  their  lands 
and  raising  provisions,  the  better.  The  constant  coming  in  of 
new  settlers,  and  the  troops  which  Avill  be  kept  in  the  country 
by  Congress,  will  give  us  a  good  market  for  many  years ;  and 


378  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

these  little  skulking  parties  of  Indians,  if  tliey  are  never  won 
to  be  our  friends,  can  never  do  us  any  considerable  injury. 
On  the  other  hand,  should  there  be  a  general  Indian  war,  this 
will  be  a  place  of  general  rendezvous  for  an  army.  So  that, 
in  all  human  probability,  the  settlement  can  never  fail  of  the 
protection  of  Government. 

It  Avill  be  inquired,  I  presume,  Avhy  we  laid  out  some  of  the 
8  acre  lots  so  far  from  the  City  plat  1  To  Avhich  I  answer, 
4,000  acres  for  City  and  commons  take  up  a  large  tract  of 
land.  In  Township  No.  2,  and  8th  Range,  the  lots  No.  8,  16, 
and  29  are  public  lots,  which  otherwise  would  have  been  laid 
out  into  8  acre  lots.  Again,  it  was  the  original  design  to  have 
them  as  nearly  equal  as  possible  in  quality  and  situation,  and 
so  situated  that  the  produce  might,  in  case  of  necessity,  be 
brought  to  the  City.  This,  I  conceive,  may  better  be  done 
ten  miles  by  water  than  two  by  land,  Avhere  the  country  is 
more  than  commonly  hilly  (which  is  ever  the  case  near  large 
rivers)  and  roads  to  make. 

But  you,  perhaps,  will  inquire  why  all  the  margins  of  the 
River  Ohio  and  Muskingum  are  not  taken  up  so  far  as  we  ex- 
tend these  lots  on  either  of  them  ?  Answer :  They  are  so 
where  there  is  any  considerable  body  of  Interval  or  Second 
Bottom  bordering  on  them.  In  some  places,  the  hill  shuts 
doAvn  to  the  river  bank ;  in  others,  the  Bottom  is  narrow  and 
ought  to  be  laid  out  Avith  the  adjoining  hill  Country.  But 
another  circumstance,  attended  to,  will  perhaps  satisfy  you 
and  every  other  person.  It  will  be  only  on  extraordinary  oc- 
casions, and  which  I  hope  will  never  happen,  that  it  will  be 
necessary  to  bring  the  produce  of  any  lots  that  lie  remote  to 
the  City  of  Adelphia.  Nothing  but  a  general  war,  and  a  war 
in  which  we  mtist  be  very  unfortunate,  can  prevent  the  follow- 
ing settlements  being  established  in  the  course  of  one  year, 
Avhich  are  so  situated  in  point  of  distance,  and  suitable 
grounds  for  building  and  other  purposes,  as  will  undoubtedly 
recommend  them  to  their  present  owners,  or  others,  to  erect 
houses  on  immediately,  which  it  will  be  prudent  to  stockade 
for  a  few  years.  These  situations  are  as  follows,  viz :  ToAvn- 
ship  2  and  8th  Range,  lot  No.  9,  on  Little  Muskingum  ;  Lots 
13  and  14,  2d  Township  and  9th  Range,  doAvn  the  Ohio ;  Lot 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  379 

3,  in  the  3d  Township,  9th  Range,  up  the  Muskingum  ;  Lot 
13,  in  the  4th  Township,  9th  Range,  still  further  up  the  Mus- 
kingum. The  three  last  of  these  will,  beyond  doubt,  grow 
into  consequence  as  farming  towns,  and  the  other  a  very  con- 
siderable village. 

It  would  give  you  pain,  and  me  no  pleasure,  to  detail  our 
march  over  the  mountains,  or  our  delays  afterward  on  account 
of  bad  weather,  or  other  misfortunes.  I  shall  only  observe 
that  I  arrived  at  Major  White's  party  on  the  Youghiogheny 
River  the  14th  of  February.  No  boats  built,  boards  or  planks 
in  readiness,  or  person  capable  of  building  a  canoe,  much  less 
a  boat  among  the  party.  Mill  frozen  up,  and  no  boards  to  be 
had ;  he  had,  however,  three  canoes,  such  as  they  were,  on  the 
stocks,  and  five  of  his  men  sick  with  the  small-pox,  which 
they  took  by  inoculation. 

On  the  first  day  of  April,  in  the  afternoon,  we  left  the 
Youghiogheny,  and  arrived  at  Fort  Harmar  on  the  seventh, 
being  obliged  to  stop  at  Harmon  and  Buff'alo  Creek  on  our 
way,  to  take  in  provisions,  etc.  Our  whole  fleet  consisted  of 
the  Union  galley  of  45  tons  burden,  designed  to  pass  and  re- 
pass between  this  and  Buifalo,  or  Short  Creek,  to  bring 
down  settlers  ;  the  Adelphia  Ferry-boat,  burden,  3  tons,  for 
the  use  of  the  settlers  at  the  Post ;  and  three  log  canoes  of 
different  sizes. 

On  our  arrival  here,  the  surveys  commenced  immediately, 
but  a  series  of  rains,  and  being  obliged  to  survey  so  much 
more  land  than  was  expected,  in  order  to  obtain  lands  suita- 
ble to  our  purpose,  prevented  our  completing  our  Plans  till 
yesterday.  The  City  lots  will  be  ready  to  draw  by  the  first 
Wednesday  of  July,  as  proposed  at  the  meeting  in  Providence, 
but  the  others  will  not.  It  was  General  Knox's  advice  that  I 
shall  not  presume  to  survey  more  till  after  the  Treaty. 

The  men  have  most  of  them  been  employed  these  ten  days 
in  clearing  land  for  themselves,  which  they  will  plant  next 
week,  and  the  rest  are  doing  the  same  for  the  Company.  Sev- 
eral proprietors  have  come  on  this  spring,  and  are  doing  the 
same.  They  all  work  on  the  City-plat,  and  the  whole  quantity 
of  corn  planted,  I   expect,  will   be  about  100  acres.     As  soon 


380  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

as  this  work  is   over,  we  shall   turn   our  attention  to  building 
houses  and  boats  suitable  to  prosecute  the  surveys  with. 

As  to  the  mode  of  conveying  letters,  I  have  hit  on  none 
yet,  to  convey  from  this  place  to  Philadelphia,  or  from  thence 
to  this  place,  that  could  be  depended  upon.  Perhaps  we  may 
find  out  some  way  in  the  course  of  the  summer. 

The  expense  has  risen  much  beyond  our  calculation,  and 
if  the  Treaty  concludes  favorably,  the  surveys  must  no  doubt 
be  pushed  till  late  in  the  fall ;  of  consequence,  more  money 
will  be  wanted.  But  I  expect  Generals  Parsons  and  Varnum 
Avill  be  on  soon  ;  will  therefore  not  propose  any  thing  at  pres- 
ent on  that  subject. 

The  men  are  generally  in  good  health,  and  I  believe  much 
pleased  with  the  country  ;  that  I  am  so  myself,  you  may  rest 
assured. 

The  accounts  of  Moulton  and  others  I  will  attend  to.  The 
winter  in  this  quarter  was  severe  indeed,  the  most  so  known 
for  many  years.  But  I  can  only  add,  the  situation  of  the 
City-plat  is  the  most  delightful  of  any  I  ever  saw,  and  those 
traces  of  ancient  walls,  mounds,  etc.,  are  truly  surprising. 
Mr.  Sargent's  painting  gives  but  a  faint  idea  of  what  is  to  be 
seen  on  the  spot. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  very  humble  servant, 

E.UFUS  Putnam. 

[i)r.   Cutler  to   Colonel  Richard  Piatt,   Treasurer  of  the  Ohio 

Company  ^ 

Ipswich,  February  20,  1788. 

My  Dear  Sir: — Major  Sargent  will  hand  you  the  letters  of 
Attorney  you  requested  from  the  persons  under  my  Agency, 
and  I  should  have  forwarded,  by  the  same  opportunity,  small 
sums  in  securities  and  silver  which  I  have  collected,  but  Major 
Sargent  advises  me  to  make  a  larger  collection  before  for- 
warding them  to  you,  and  assures  me  Colonel  Duer  has  re- 
ceived the  securities  he  advanced  in  the  first  payment. 

Continental  Securities  have  been  falling  in  Boston  since  my 
last  return  from  New  York,  and  it  was  presumed  adventurers 
who  have  not  paid  for  their  shares  would  purchase  them  at 
2s.  {Sd.     To  prevent  their  rising,  it  has  been  proposed  that  in- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  381 

dividual  adventurers  should  not  apply  to  the  Brokers,  but  de- 
posit their  hard  money  in  the  hands  of  one  man  only,  who 
should  get  them  on  the  best  terms  in  his  power.  A  consider- 
able sum  has  been  put  into  my  hands,  but  the  ratification  of 
the  Federal  Constitution  has  given  them  a  sudden  start,  and 
raised  them  to  3s.  Qd.,  altho'  there  are  very  few  purchasers, 
and  those  principally  who  wish  to  keep  them  until  they  rise 
to  par. 

This  sudden  rise  of  securities  very  materially  affects  many 
of  our  most  valuable  adventurers,  men  who  intend  immedi- 
ately to  go  into  the  Country  with  their  families,  are  possessed 
of  small  property,  and  will  be  just  able  to  get  themselves  into 
the  country,  after  paying  for  their  lands,  but  men  that  are  of 
the  greatest  consequence  to  every  other  description  of  adven- 
turers, as  it  depends  on  them  to  cultivate  the  Country  and 
render  it  valuable. 

On  account  of  this  class  of  settlers,  I  Avish  you  to  inform 
me  at  Avhat  price  you  will  procure  securities  to  the  amount  of 
20,  30,  or  perhaps  40  shares.  If  it  should  be  agreeable  to  you 
to  procure  securities,  and  the  price  be  agreeable  to  adven- 
turers here,  it  would  be  most  convenient  to  forward  a  Bill  on 
some  gentlemen  in  New  York,  as  we  may  not  have,  instantly, 
an  opportunity  of  sending  the  hard  money.  Mr.  Thos.  Rus- 
sell will  draw,  payable  on  sight,  or  ten  days.  Wish  you  to 
name  some  gentleman  on  whom  you  can  depend,  and  who  is 
connected  in  trade,  or  acquainted  with  Mr.  Russell,  if  there 
be  any  such  within  your  knowledge.  I  likcAvise  wish  to  be 
favored  with  your  opinion  on  the  probability  of  securities 
rising  above  the  present  exchange. 

Adventurers  who  have  paid  for  shares  are  exceedingly  press- 
ing for  the  Indents,  which  are  to  be  returned  to  them.  Pray 
inform  me  when  they  may  be  expected. 

The  sickness  of  Mr.  Flint  I  conceive  to  be  extremely  un- 
fortunate. Mr.  Barlow  is  the  only  man,  within  my  knowledge, 
that  can  be  obtained,  to  whom  I  should  feel  myself  willing  to 
intrust  our  business,  and  have  much  regretted  that  he  has 
not  been  appointed.  He  seems  to  be  preferred  to  any  other 
man   by  Flint,  who  offers  to  compensate   him   until  he   shall 


382  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

be   able  to  go  to  Europe  and  take  the   business  into  his  own 
hands. 

When  Indents  are  sent  on,  I  shall  want  each  person's  ac- 
count from  your  books,  under  my  Agency,  in  order  to  make  a 
proper  settlement,  for  I  have  not  by  me  an  accurate  account 
of  the  moneys  paid  in  by  individuals.  Such  an  account  from 
you  will  give  perfect  satisfaction  to  every  adventurer. 

Give  me  leave  to  congratulate  you  on  the  adoption  of  the 
Federal  Constitution  by  the  Massachusetts.  We  hope  New 
York  will  not  be  obstinate  ;  but  with,  us  her  adoption  of  it  is 
more  problematical  than  even  that  of  Rhode  Island.  Please 
to  present  my  compliments  to  your  Mother  and  Sister,  with 
whom  I  had  the  pleasure  of  traveling  in  the  stage,  on  my  re- 
turn from  New  York. 

I  am  with  high  esteem,  dear  sir. 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

Col.  Platt.  M.  Cutler. 

[Nathan  Dane  to  Dr.  Cutler.'] 

New  York,  Ajml  6,  1788. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I  received  yours  of  the  18th  ult.  I  shall 
readily  pay  every  attention  to  the  subject  you  mention  in  my 
power. 

Nothing  particular  has  taken  place  since  I  wrote  you  last. 
We  have  had  no  late  information  of  any  considerable  im- 
portance from  the  Indians.  It  is  rather  uncertain  as  yet  how 
the  elections  for  the  State  Convention  have  gone  in  Virginia, 
and  no  conjectures  can  well  be  formed  how  they  will  be  in  this 
State. 

I  see  by  the  papers  that  the  British  Ministry  have  demanded 
the  abolition  of  the  works  at  Cherbourg.  This  new^spaper  in- 
formation is  all  I  have  heard  or  seen  respecting  the  aifair,  but 
if  such  a  demand  has  been  made,  I  think  it  must  be  passed  by 
in  silence  by  the  French  Court,  or  that  Court  must  refuse  to 
comply  with  it.  The  probable  consequence,  in  my  mind,  is 
Avar.  I  inclose  you  a  letter  from  Major  Sargent. 
With  sentiments  of  esteem  and  friendship, 

I  am,  dear  sir,  your  obed't  servant, 

Doctor  M.  Cutler.  N.  Dane. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  383 


[D?-.  Cutler  to  General  Henry  Knox,  Secretary  of  War.'] 

Ipswich,  3Iay  3,  1788. 
.     Not  being  able  to  obtain  the  several  Ordinances  of 
Congress  relating  to  army  lands,  I  am  in  doubt  whether  certain 
descriptions  of  the  army  are  entitled  to  lands.     Is  the  Invalid 
Regiment   entitled   to   lands  ?     Particularly  those   discharged 
on  a  pension  previous  to  the   general  discharge  at  the  close 
of  the   war  ?     Are  the  heirs   of  those  who  were  wounded  in 
battle  and  died   of  their  wounds   in   the  hospitals  ?     Or  those 
who  died  while  they  were  prisoners  ?     Or  of  sickness  in  the 
hospitals  ?     Will  a  certificate  from  the   Selectmen  of  a  town, 
certifying  Avho  are  the  heirs  of  a  soldier  slain  in  battle,  be  ad- 
mitted  as  sufficient  evidence   in   the  War  Office  or  Board  of 
Treasury  ?     I  conceive  a  certificate  from  the  Judge  of  Pro- 
bate might  be  the   most  proper,  but  the  property  of  soldiers 
was  generally  so  small  that  their  friends  avoided  the  expenses 
of  letters  of  administration,  and  application  to   the  Judge  for 
such  certificates  may  subject  them  to  more  expense  than  the 
value  of  the  lands. 

The  spirit  of  emigration  to  the  western  country  is  daily  in- 
creasing in  the  New  England  States.  We  shall  certainly  have 
more  than  one  thousand  families  at  the  Muskingum  the  present 
year,  unless  the  natives  should  be  so  uncivil  as  to  interrupt 
those  already  on  the  ground.  Pray,  what  are  your  latest  ac- 
counts from  that  quarter  ?  Will  all  the  tribes  that  have  re- 
linquished their  claims  to  the  lands  Ave  have  purchased  be  sum- 
moned to  attend  the  treaty  on  the  Muskingum  ? 

I  am  happy  in  being  able  to  assure  you  that  anti-federalism 
is  daily  becoming  more  unpopular  in  this  part  of  the  Common- 
wealth. The  leaders  are  silent,  or  have  changed  sides,  and 
the  common  people  are  almost  unanimously  in  favor  of  the 
New  Government,  and  wish  that  it  should  be  carried  into  effect. 
We  are  anxious  to  obtain  authentic  intelligence  of  the  pros- 
pects in  Virginia  and  New  York, 

I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  inclose  a  letter  to  our  worthy 
friends,  Duer  and  Piatt,  which  I  beg  you  to  excuse.     Please 


384  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cufler. 

to     present     my     most     respectful     compliments     to     your 
lady. 

I  am,  "with  the  highest  esteem  and  respect, 

Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant. 
General  Knox.  M.  Cutler. 

Thurs.,  Jan.  17,  1788.  Mr.  Haraden  and  I  went  to  Salem 
to  get  the  dimensions  of  wagons  for  the  western  counti-y. 

3Ion.,  Jan.  28.  Went  into  the  woods  with  a  team  and  car- 
ried a  white  ash  log  to  the  mill  for  felloes  for  wagon  wheels, 
and  brought  home  timber  for  the  body. 

Thurs.  Feb.  7.  Sent  to  every  man  in  the  parish  an  invita- 
tion to  assist  me  in  hauling  wood.  Constitution  adopted  by 
Massachusetts. 

Fri.,  Feb.  8.  Hauled  wood  from  over  the  Pond.  Mr.  Plum- 
mer  here  from  Pittsburgh  in  19  days.  Accounts  of  the  ar- 
rival of  Major  White  and  my  son. 

Thurs.,  Feb.  14.  Went  into  Boston  ;  dined  at  Mr.  Hichborn's 
and  lodged  with  him.     Spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Belknap's. 

Fri.,  Feb.  15.  Came  out  of  Boston  at  6  o'clock  P.  M.  Went 
to  Cambridge  and  lodged  at  President  Willard's. 

Sat.,  Mar.  1.  Preparing  for  a  journey  to  Providence.  Mr. 
Harris,  from  Newbury,  here. 

3Ion.,  Mar.  3.  Set  out  for  Boston  ;  extremely  cold.  Dined 
in  Boston  and  went  on  to  Dedham. 

Tues.,  Mar.  4.  Went  to  Providence  in  my  chaise  to  attend 
a  meeting  of  the  Directors  and  Agents  of  the  Ohio  Company. 
Mr.  Harris  in  a  sulky.  Arrived  at  Providence  about  sunset, 
and  lodged  at  Mr.  Hitchcock's. 

Wed.,  3Iar.  5.  A  meeting  of  the  Directors  and  Agents 
of  the  Ohio  Company  at  Rice's  Tavern.  Made  returns  of 
shares  and  prepared  to  draw  next  morning.  Dined  with  the 
company  at  Rice's. 

Thurs,  Mar.  6.  The  Directors  and  Agents  drew  for  the 
the  eight-acre  lots.  Began  to  draw  at  9  in  the  morning,  in  the 
Council  Chamber  in  the  Court  House — open  doors — and  a 
great  number  of  people  attended.  Dined  at  Mr.  John  Brown's  ; 
a  most  superb  entertainment.     Completed  our  draught  between 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  385 

nine  and  ten  at  night,  and  were   liappy  to  find  there  was  no 
mistake. 

Fri.,  Mar.  7.  Directors  and  Agents  hckl  a  meeting  and 
closed  their  business  about  nine  in  the  evening.  Dined  with 
a  large  number  of  the  Directors  and  Agents  at  Mr.  Welcome 
Arnold's. 

Sat.,  Mar.  8.  A  meeting  of  the  Directors  in  the  forenoon. 
Adjourned  the  meeting  of  the  Directors  and  Agents  to  the 
Muskingum  on  the  Ohio.  Came  out  of  Providence  half-past 
one,  and  rode  to  Dedham  in  company  with  Mr.  Harris. 
Lodged  at  Mr.  Chickering's. 

Lord's  Lay.,  Mar.  9.     Preached  for  Mr.  Chickering. 

3Iar.  25-28.  Attended  Council  at  Topsfield.  Lodged  at 
Dr.  Cleavelaiid's. 

Sat.,  3Iar.  29.  Council  dissolved.  Advised  Mr.  Breck  to 
ask  a  dismission. 

Lues.,  Apr.  1.  At  home.  Mr.  Story  and  wife,  Mr.  Prince, 
and  Mr.  Grafton  dined  with  us. 

Mon.,  Apr.  21 ;  Sat.,  Apr.  26.  Time  much  taken  up  with 
Ohio  people. 

Sat.,  May  3.  Received  a  lengthy  and  very  complaisant  let- 
ter from  Dr.  Stokes,  and  also  the  two  first  volumes  of  his  Bo- 
tanical Arrangements. 

Tues.,  May  13.  The  Association  met  here.  Messrs.  Swain, 
Forbes,  Payson,  Holt,  Parsons,  Wadsworth,  McKean,  Story, 
Hubbard,  Bently,  and  other  gentlemen.    Mr.  Payson  preached. 

Thurs.,  May  22.  Went  to  Salem.  Found  a  new  genus  of 
plants  in  the  woodland. 

Lords  Lay,  May  25.  Exchanged  with  Mr.  Wadsworth; 
drank  tea  at  Judge  Holton's. 

Tues.,  May  27.      Went  to   Boston.     Attended  the  meeting 
of  the  Academy  at  the  Hall  of  the  Bank.     Dined  at  Mr.  Bow 
doin's. 

Wed.,  3Iay  28.  Election.  Dined  at  Mr.  Russell's.  Went 
out  to  Dorchester  with  Mr.  Everett  and  Mr.  Chickering. 

Thurs.,  May  29.     Dined  at  Brother  Belknap's. 

Tues.,  June  3.     Attended  the  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of 
the  Philosophical  Library  at   Salem.     Dined  at  Mr.  Prince's. 
25 


386  Life  of  Rev.  llanasseh  Cutler. 

Sent  on  a  bill  to   Philadelphia  of  300  dollars.     Brother  Dean 
came. 

Lords  Bay,  June  15.  Exchanged  "with  Mr.  Hubbard,  of 
Marblehead.  Went  in  the  mornino;  and  returned  at  nisrht. 
Drank  tea  at  Mr.  Prince's. 

Thnrs.,  June  19.  Mr.  Prince  and  I  went  to  Boston  to- 
gether in  my  chaise.  We  dined  in  Boston  and  spent  the 
evening  at  Mr.  Clarke's  Avith  Mr,  Belknap. 

Fri.,  June  20.  Purchased  a  sulky  in  order  to  go  to  the 
western  country.  Sent  a  letter  to  Mr.  Barlow,  in  London  or 
France.     Spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Belknap's. 

June  27-28.     Overhauling  my  sulky  and  painting  it. 

Tues.,  July  1.  Making  a  traveling  trunk  for  the  western 
countrv. 

Fri.,  July  4.  Anniversary  of  American  Independence. 
Went  to  Salem.  Cadet  and  artillery  companies  turned  out 
and  made  a  very  pretty  appearance.  This  evening  received 
the  very  agreeable  intelligence  of  Virginia's  adopting  the  Con- 
stitution. 

Wed.,  July  9.  Attended  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Brown,  of 
Beverly. 

Jlon.,  July  14.     Preparing  for  my  journey  westward. 

Wed.,  July  16.  Commencement  at  Cambridge.  Set  out  in 
the  morning,  arrived  at  eleven  o'clock,  dined  in  the  Hall. 

Thurs.,  July  17.  Spent  the  day  in  Boston.  Went  over  to 
Cambridge  at  night  and  lodged  at  Steadman's. 

Fri.,  July  18.  VVillard  Peale  examined  and  accepted. 
Dined  at  the  President's,  and  came  home. 

Sat.,  July  19.     Preparing  for  my  journey. 

Lord's  Bay,  July  20.  I  preached  at  Mr,  Swain's.  Mr. 
Swain  at  Topsfield,  and  Mr.  Story  here.  Informed  the  people 
of  my  intention  to  set  out  on  my  journey.  Relinquished  my 
salary,  and  they  to  suppl}^  the  pulpit. 

Monday,  July  21.     Set  out  for  the  Ohio  country. 

From  Rev.  Br.  S.  Beane. 

Portland,  May  19,  1788. 
Bear  Sir : — Your  determination   on   a  southern   adventure 
much  afflicts  me.     Why  must. you  remove  to  so  awful  a  dis- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  387 

tance  ?  You  will  mar  my  plan  of  growing  in  natural  philoso- 
phy, as  I  glide  into  the  evening  of  life.  I  would  sacrifice 
much  to  get  you  nearer  to  me.  But  as  for  your  Garden  of 
Eden,  the  fruit  there  looks  too  much  like  forbidden.  But  I 
sincerely  wish  you  the  blessing  of  heaven  in  all  your  under- 
takings. 

Mr.  Hubbard  handed  me  your  letter  this  morning,  dated 
May  7th.  I  thank  you  for  the  friendship,  generosity,  and  in- 
formation contained  in  it.  The  Committee  of  Agriculture 
are  somewhat  aAvakened  with  respect  to  my  affair,  as  you 
may  see  in  the  Massachusetts  "Gazette,  and  Sentinel,  where 
they  renew  their  recommendation  of  the  N.  E.  Farmer,  and 
request  the  subscription  papers  by  the  1st  of  June,  so  that 
what  you  do  must  be  done  speedily.  Your  attention  will 
much  oblige  me.  If  there  should  not  be  700  subscriptions,  I 
suppose  I  shall  be  forced  to  make  up  the  number  myself, 
which  was  no  part  of  my  first  design,  but  I  should  hate  the 
mortification  of  an  abortion.  The  Committee's  re-recommenda- 
tion did  not  appear  in  Adams  and  Nourse,  who  I  supposed 
were  printers  to  the  Committee  ;  an  omission  I  know  not  how 
to  account  for.  We  shall  publish  it  here  this  week.  I  am 
afraid  too  short  a  day  is  appointed  for  bringing  in  the  papers. 
If  you  should  be  at  Boston,  I  hope  you  will  be  so  good  as 
to  advise  with  some  of  the  Committee  about  it,  and  induce 
them  to  lengthen  the  time,  if  there  is  any  reason  to  fear  the 
papers  have  not  yet  circulated  sufficiently. 

I  have  lately  applied  Goland's  Extract  of  Lead  to  the  eschar 
of  my  wart,  which  has  taken  out  the  inflammation  almost  en- 
tirely, but  the  pain  in  my  hip,  pronounced  to  be  sciatica,  yields 
to  no  remedies.  This,  however,  thank  heaven,  is  more  tolera- 
ble than  it  has  been,  and  I  am  in  better  bodily  condition  for 
journeying  than  when  you  saw  me,  but  other  things  will  pre- 
vent me,  I  believe,  till  near  autumn.  If  I  can  find  you  in 
the  body  I  will  then  see  you. 

My  2)c(t<perta8  makes  me  dispair  of  equipping  myself  thor- 
oughly for  meteorological  observations.  I  have  improved  my 
chapter  on  Barn  Yard  or  Farm-yard,  with  the  ideas  you  gave 
me  of  one  in  the  Jerseys,  which  ideas,  though  not  wholly  new 
to  me,  I  had  shamefully  disregarded. 


388  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

I  will  be  inquisitive  concerning  the  medical  and  econom- 
ical uses  of  indigenous  plants,  as  far  as  my  hurry  will  per- 
mit me. 

You  might  have  informed  the  world  that  the  bark  of  the 
hassivood  will  serve  all  the  purposes  of  hemp.  It  is  stronger 
than  the  rind  of  elm.  No  tree  is  more  common  in  this  part 
of  the  country.  I  have  had  chairs  bottomed  with  the  rind, 
which  will  slip  finely  in  June.  The  longitudinal  fibers  must 
have  their  cohesion  destroyed  by  boiling  in  a  weak  lye  of 
wood  ashes.  I  have  had  sti;ong  ropes  and  strings  made  of 
it.  The  aboriginals  make  their  belts  of  this  bark,  as  I  have 
been  informed,  some  of  which  are  pliant  as  flaxen  ones 
would  be. 

I  mean  to  send  this  hasty  scrawl  by  Mr.  Nath'l  Fosdick,  a 
son  of  Harvard,  na'val  officer  P.  T.  for  our  port,  and  request 
him  to  call  as  he  returns,  that  I  may  hear  further  from  you. 
I  am,  dear  sir,  affectionately  yours. 

Rev.  Mr.  Cutler.  S.  Deane.* 

\(xeneral  Parsons  to  Dr.  Cutler.^ 

Muskingum,  IQth  July,  1788. 

Bear  Sir : — I  received  your  kind  letter  of  the  21st  April 
this  morning,  on  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Rogers  and  others.  We 
shall  be  happy  to  receive  you  in  our  Settlement  as  soon  as 
you  can  make  it  convenient ;  indeed  it  is  necessary  you  should 
be  here  as  early  as  possible.  Some  diJOferent  arrangements  in 
the  surveys  must  take  place,  I  believe,  and  it  will  be  proper 
that  as  large  a  representation  of  the  Proprietors  should  be 
present  when  any  material  alterations  of  the  former  system 
are  made. 

The  beauty  of  situation,  fertility  of  soil,  and  goodness  of 


*  Rev.  Samuel  Deane,  D.D.  (Brown  University,  ]  790).  Poet.  Pastor 
at  Falmouth  (now  Portland,  Me.),  from  October  IT,  1764,  to  his  death, 
November  12,  1814.  Born  at  Dedham,  Mass.,  July  30,  ITSo.  Gradu- 
ate Harvard  University,  1760.  Librarian  and  tutor.  He  received  one 
of  the  six  prizes  offered  by  the  college  for  compositions  on  the  death 
of  George  II.  and  the  accession  of  George  III.,  printed  in  1761.  He 
published  his  Georgical  Dictionary,  or  New  England  Farmer,  in  1790; 
and  a  poem,  ''  Pitchwood  Hill." — Drakes  Diet.  Am.  Biog. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  389 

climate  are  equal  to  our  most  sanguine  expectations ;  industry 
and  perseverance  will  soon  place  us  in  very  easy  circum- 
stances. Our  principal  obstruction  to  settlement  arises  from 
unfounded  Reports  of  Danger,  fabricated  and  industriously 
spread  to  alarm  the  fears  of  people.  More  than  One  Hun- 
dred have  halted  in  Westmoreland  and  Washington  Counties, 
and  several  have  returned  Home,  occasioned  by  Reports,  in 
almost  every  instance,  wholly  void  of  Truth. 

We  have  suffered  no  insults  from  the  Indians,  but  they  are  with 
us  almost  every  week,  and  profess  a  great  Friendship  for  the 
Yankees,  who  they  distinguish  from  the  settlers  on  the  Vir- 
ginia shore ;  yet  they  have  no  government  but  that  of  Influ- 
ence from  advice  of  their  Chiefs.  We  can  not  be  sure  no  par- 
tial injuries  will  be  attempted  by  the  ungoverned  part  of  the 
Tribes  ;  Ave  have  therefore  hitherto  kept  ourselves  in  a  State 
of  Defense,  so  that  no  attempt  can  be  made  but  where  the 
whole  Body  of  the  Inhabitants  may  be  brought  to  repel  the 
Enemy  within  an  hour.  Our  working  parties  are  enjoined  to 
take  their  Arms  into  the  field,  and  a  small  patrol  is  every 
day  without  them.  This  service  is  done  in  rotation,  and  Avill 
be  continued  as  a  cautionary  measure,  tho'  I  have  little  Rea- 
son to  suspect  any  attack  will  ever  be  made.  The  Indians 
themselves  remark  in  their  Towns  that  we  settle  compactly, 
and  not  in  the  scattered  manner  in  which  the  Frontiers  have 
been  generally  settled,  and  no  attempt  can  be  made  without 
meeting  the  whole  force  in  the  Settlement,  as  well  as  the  sol- 
diers of  the  Garrison.  If  we  continue  to  exercise  a  prudent 
Caution,  I  believe  we  are  in  very  little  Danger. 

An  unlucky  event  has  retarded  the  Treaty.  A  few  days 
since,  a  small  party  of  the  Ottawa  Indians  attacked  a  Guard  at 
the  Falls  of  the  Muskingum  (about  80  miles  up  the  River), 
who  were  there  stationed  to  protect  the  provisions  sent  up  for 
the  Treaty,  in  which  affray  we  lost  three  men ;  two  Indians 
were  killed  and  one  wounded,  and  they  were  repulsed.  The 
Delawares,  however,  came  in  immediately,  and  remain  to  pro- 
tect the  Stores  and  Treaty.  The  Governor,  in  consequence  of 
this  violation  of  faith,  has  ordered  the  Stores  down,  and  sent 
to  demand  Satisfaction  for  the  Insult.     This  appears  to  me 


390  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

likely  to  protract  the  Business,  a  very  proper  measure,  and 
such  as  will  in  its  issue  do  us  much  good. 

Whilst  I  am  writing,  I  received  your  two  other  letters.  I 
will  endeavor  to  ansAver  all  your  Questions.  They  are  impor- 
tant Questions.  I  believe  nobody  will  lose  their  Night-Caps, 
if  Ave  behave  in  our  settlement  as  Ave  ought  to,  and  as  I  believe 
we  shall.  No  Magazine  of  Provisions  is  yet  made  here,  by 
which  people  may  be  supplied  in  any  considerable  Quantities, 
but  they  generally  supply  in  the  upper  Country,  though  I 
think  it  Economy  and  in  every  point  prudent  such  supply 
should  be  made,  Avhen  I  knoAv  it  may  so  easily  be  done  without 
loss  to  the  Company.  This  and  some  other  encouraging  prop- 
ositions I  shall  make  on  the  22d  inst.,  to  which  time  our  Meet- 
ing is  adjourned. 

When  I  came,  no  cover  Avas  provided  for  any  person.  We 
have  built  our  Huts,  and  the  Block  Houses  are  now  begun,  one 
being  partly  raised  this  day  (the  19th).  The  Company  have 
ordered  four  Houses  to  be  built,  under  the  care  of  the  Direc- 
tors, and  in  their  disposal.  One  will  doubtless  be  for  the  Gov- 
ernor, one  for  the  Company's  use,  one  for  public  Offices,  and 
the  other  for  accommodating  the  Instruction  of  the  Settle- 
ment. On  the  completion  of  these,  you  Avill  doubtless  be  ivell 
accommodated.  You  are  much  Avanted — many  things  are  nec- 
sary  to  be  done.  Rome  was  not  built  in  a  Day.  We  have 
some  difficulties  to  encounter  Avhich  require  a  persevering 
mind.  I  Avish  you  here.  I  think  families  determined  to  sac- 
rifice a  temporary  convenience  to  great  prospects  should  has- 
ten to  this  place.  I  am  pleased  with  Mr.  Rogers,*  but  your 
wishes  are  in  your  OAvn  poAver.     You  are  the  appointing  power. 


*  Nathaniel  Rogers,  born  at  Ipswich,  Msiss  ,  March  11,1762;  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  College,  1782.  Me  went  to  Maiietta,  Ohio,  in  May, 
1788,  as  a  teacher  engaged  for  the  purpose  by  Dr.  Cutler,  but  returned 
the  same  year  to  Ipswich,  and  removed  with  his  wife  (who  was  the 
daughter  of  Colonel  Abraham  Dodge)  to  Salem,  Mass.,  where  they 
were  eminently  successful  as  teachers.  In  1790,  he  became  teacher  of 
the  Latin  Grammar  School  in  Salem,  and  soon  after  opened  a  private 
school  "for  the  instruction  of  boys  in  English,  French,  Greek,  and 
Latin  languages."  He  died  in  1799,  aged  37  years.  Mrs.  Rogers  con- 
tinued to  teach  there  several  years,  and  died  in  IS  17. — See  N.  E.  Gen. 
and  Hist.  Register. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianas8eh  Cutler.  391 

and  I  never  wish   to  make  the  Mode  of  Education,  or  the  In- 
structor under  such  mode,  more  in  the  power  of  a  Town  Meet- 
ing than  I  wish  Government  or  the  Laws  to  be. 
You  are  very  much  Avanted.     I  wish  you  here. 
I  am,  with  much  esteem,  your  obedient  servant, 

Sam.  H.  Parsons. 
\Qtli  July.     Our  city  is  called  Mari-ette. 

JOURNAL    OF    REV.  MANASSEH    CUTLER    OF    A    JOURNEY  FROM  IPS- 
WICH, MASSACHUSETTS,  TO    THE    MUSKINGUM,  IN    1788. 

3Ionday,  July  21, 1788.  Set  out  from  Ipswich  on  a  journey 
to  the  Ohio  and  Muskingum.  Mr.  Ephm.  Kendall,  of  Ipswich, 
was  gone  on  to  Salem,  where  he,  with  Mr.  Peter  Oliver,  joined 
me  on  horseback.  I  set  out  myself  in  a  sulky.  Made  some 
little  stop  in  Salem.  We  dined  at  NeAvhall's,  in  company  with 
Judge  Gushing,  and  the  Attorney-General,  Mr.  Paine.  We 
were  detained  several  hours  in  Boston.  Left  the  town  about 
sunset,  having  received  a  prodigious  number  of  letters  for 
Muskingum.  Lodged  at  Major  Whiting's,  in  Roxbury.  34 
miles. 

Tuesday,  July  22.  Rained  last  night  and  this  morning. 
Waited  until  seven  in  the  morning  before  we  set  out.  Break- 
fasted at  Mr.  Chickering's.  Several  people  called  on  me. 
Cleared  away.  We  dined  at  Mr.  Chickering's,  and  then  set 
out  on  our  way.  Passed  through  Franklin  and  Woonsocket 
Falls.  Lodged  at  Mr.  Arnold's,  tavern-keeper,  and  member 
of  Congress  for  the  State  of  Rhode  Island.     29  miles. 

Wednesday,  July  23.  Showery.  Set  out  late.  Break- 
fasted at  Olney's,  in  Gloucester.  Arrived  at  Felshaw's  (Kil- 
lingly,  Connecticut)  about  3  o'clock.  Went  to  my  Father's, 
and  found  all  well.     Did  business  with  a  number  of  people. 

Thursday,  Jidy  24.  Set  out  late  in  the  morning,  about  10 
o'clock.  Have  had  considerable  business  to  do.  Very  show- 
ery. Made  a  stage  at  Judge  Randall's,  in  Pomfret.  Stopped 
in  Ashford  to  get  Major  Oliver's  saddle-bags  mended.  Very 
sultry ;  frequent  and  smart  showers,  but  we  did  not  regard 
them  so  much  as  to  put  on  our  loose  coats.  Dined  at  Major 
Clark's.     Lodged  at  Dunham's,  in  Mansfield.     Rode  27  miles. 

Friday,  July  25.     This  morning  very  windy  and  showery. 


392  Life  of  Rev.  llanasseh  Cutler. 

Set  out  late.  Breakfasted  at  Widow  Kimball's,  in  Coventry. 
Went  on  to  Hartford,  and  dined  at  Bull's  tavern.  Mr.  Bull 
sent  for  Captain  Pratt,  a  recruiting  officer  from  the  Western 
Country,  who  gave  us  the  stages  from  Bethlehem,  and  favored 
me  with  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Butler,  the  lady  of  General  Butler, 
at  Carlisle.  Exchanged  silver  for  gold  with  Mr.  Pomeroy, 
broker.  Securities  Ss.  6d.  on  the  £,  but  none  to  sell.  Wrote 
to  Mrs.  Cutler,  per  Post.  At  4  o'clock  set  out  for  Farming- 
ton.  Land  on  the  way  very  good,  though  hilly.  Farmington 
is  a  very  pretty  village,  compact,  although  it  seems  to  consist 
of  farmers  principally.  Lodged  at  Wadsworth's,  sign  Ball ; 
very  good  house,  ten  miles  from  Hartford.     33  miles  =  155. 

Saturday,  July  26.  We  rose  very  early.  Cloudy  and 
warm.  Crossed  the  fields,  and  passed  through  a  very  exten- 
sive and  fine  interval.  Farmington  River  runs  through  this 
interval.  It  is  here  a  beautiful  stream,  and  empties  into  Con- 
necticut River  at  Windsor  Ferry.  Made  our  first  stage  at 
Frisbie's,  in  Bristol,  seven  miles,  where  we  breakfasted.  Went 
on  to  Baldwin's,  in  Harrington.  Road  rough  in  many  places  ; 
in  some,  shocking.  Six  miles  from  Frisbie's  to  Baldwin's. 
These  two  houses  are  tolerable,  for  country  taverns.  Passed 
a  considerable  river,  called  Watertown  River,  Avhich  empties 
at  Stratford.  Went  on  to  Litchfield,  eight  miles,  and  put  up 
at  Buell's,  north  of  the  Meeting  House.  A  very  good  house, 
well  furnished  with  tavern  materials,  and  stables  good.  We 
dined  here.  Several  gentlemen  came  in  who  understood  we 
were  bound  to  the  Ohio.  Purchased  45|-|  Dol.  of  Major  Sy- 
more(?).  Mr.  Tracy,*  an  attorney,  called  upon  us,  also  Mr. 
Skinner,  both  of  whom  are  concerned  in  the  Ohio  Purchase, 
and  proposed  going  into  the  country  tliis  spring,  but  have  put 
it  ofi"  for  the  present.  They  were  going  with  Mr.  Tallmadge, 
who  was  at  this  time  out  of  town. 


*Mr.  Uriah  Tracy,  the  attorney,  who  was  then  exfiecting  to  remove 
to  Ohio,  remaineil  in  Litchfielil.  He  was  a  member  of  Congrf^ss  from 
1793  to  1796,  and  United  Stutes  Senator  from  179'")  until  his  cleaih,  in 
1806.  Colonel  Benjamin  Tallmndge,  who  expected  to  go  with  him,  also 
remained  in  Connecticut,  and  was  a  member  of  Congre.^s  from  18UU  to 
1817.  He  distinguished  himself  during  tiie  Ifevolutionnry  War,  in 
which  he  rose  from  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  to  Colonel.  He  was  Treas- 
urer of  the  Ohio  Company  Irom  179"2  until  the  settlement  of  its  affairs. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  393 

Litchfield  is  a  beautiful  village,  situated  on  a  long  hill,  with 
a  wide  street  running  along  the  summit  of  the  hill.  The 
houses  on  both  sides  are  compact  for  this  country.  They  are 
large,  painted,  and  make  a  rich  appearance,  and  the  whole 
town  has  the  appearance  of  wealth.  The  land  is  excellent. 
The  Meeting  House  stands  near  the  center  of  the  street,  where 
the  road  which  we  traveled  crossed  the  hill  at  right  angles 
with  the  main  street  in  the  town.  The  Lieutenant-Governor, 
Wolcott,  resides  in  this  town,  and  has  a  very  pretty  seat. 

We  left  Litchfield  at  4  o'clock,  and  were  soon  drenched  in 
showers  of  excessive  rain.  It  continued  raining,  more  or  less, 
until  we  put  up  at  night.  About  five  or  six  miles  from  Buell's 
we  began  to  ascend  Mount  Tom.  The  ascent  was  not  very 
tedious,  but  the  descent  extremely  steep  and  long.  We  made 
a  small  stop  on  the  top  of  the  Hill  at  a  bit  of  a  tavern.  Mr. 
Oliver  had  a  shoe  set  seven  miles  from  Camp's  tavern.  At 
the  foot  of  Mount  Tom  is  a  pretty  large  river,  called  Shapogue, 
which  also  empties  into  Stratford  River.  We  lodged  at  Camp's, 
in  Washington,  ten  miles  from  Litchfield.  Very  obliging  peo- 
ple, and  not  dear.  The  land  from  Litchfield,  and  indeed  from 
Farmington  Meadows,  consists  of  prodigious  high  hills  and 
deep  vales.  Much  of  it  is  very  good,  and  little  of  it  very 
poor.  The  range  of  the  hills  and  valleys  is  nearly  from  north 
to  south.     31  miles  =  186. 

Sunday,  July  27.  The  morning  cloudy  and  misty.  We  did 
not  set  out  very  early.  There  being  no  meeting  we  could 
conveniently  attend  in  this  part  of  the  country,  we  concluded 
to  make  some  little  advances  in  our  journey.  We  passed 
through  what  used  to  be  called  New  Milford,  and  by  the  Forge 
owned  by  old  Doctor  Whipple.  We  found  that  Major  White, 
and  most  of  our  companies  for  the  Ohio,  had  been  at  Camp's. 
Our  first  stage  in  the  morning  was  Daton's,  five  miles  from 
Camp's,  where  we  breakfasted.  The  road  very  bad,  though 
not  very  rocky.  This  is  Kent.  Our  next  stage  Widow  Beach's, 
six  miles.  The  road  much  up  hill  and  down,  but  rather  better 
than  we  have  had  it.  This  house  is  just  over  the  bridge  on 
Housatonic  River,  at  a  place  called  Bull's  Works,  where  there 
were  formerly  forges,  and  other  iron  works.  About  three 
miles  back  is  an  extensive  bed  of  iron  ore ;  some  of  the  cav- 


394  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

erns  nearly  forty  feet  deep.  The  land  for  twenty  miles  back 
has  mostly  chestnut,  walnut,  and  oak.  Soil  strong,  but  the 
land  exceedingly  hilly.  In  some  places,  on  high  elevations, 
the  prospect  is  very  extensive,  and  the  whole  surface  of  the 
earth  seems  to  be  covered  with  sugar-loaves  of  different  sizes, 
hills  high  and  valleys  deep.  Between  the  ranges  of  hills  are 
generally  extensive  meadows,  through  which  run  streams  of 
water.  This  is  the  westerly  part  of  Kent ;  in  less  than  half  a 
mile  we  enter  New  York  State. 

One  mile  from  this  tavern  is  a  wretched  brido-e,  verv  dan- 
gerous  to  pass,  and  ought  to  be  complained  of.  The  road  is 
good  from  this  tavern  to  Colonel  Morehouse's,  in  Dover,  New 
York  State  ;  and  about  two  miles  beyond  we  ascend  a  tremen- 
dous mountain,  two  miles  in  the  ascent.  We  found  three 
families  on  the  side  of  the  mountain.  About  the  middle  of 
the  ascent  is  a  long  level  plain,  where  there  is  one  house.  On 
the  summit  of  the  mountain,  we  have  an  extensive  prospect 
over  North  River.  The  ground  seems  to  go  off  nearly  level 
westward,  the  descent  being  very  gradual.  From  the  top  of 
the  mountain,  the  road  is  very  good  to  Vanderburgh's,  our 
next  stage.  Most  of  the  land  is  excellent ;  I  think  the  best  I 
have  ever  seen  in  America.  Vanderburgh's  tavern  is  thirteen 
miles  from  Widow  Beach's,  in  Bateman.  Here  we  lodged. 
Colonel  Vanderburgh  is  a  cheery  old  Dutchman,  but  knows 
how  to  ask  a  price.  Frequent  showers  in  the  forenoon ;  fewer 
in  the  afternoon,  but  very  sultry,  hot.  This  is  35  miles  from 
Litchfield,  and  25  from  Camp's  =  211. 

Monday,  July  28.  Rained  very  hard  last  night  and  this 
morning.  Rain  slacked  about  six,  and  we  set  out,  but  were 
soon  overtaken  in  a  shower  ;  roads  fine.  Made  our  next  stage 
at  Mr.  Alger's,  in  Fishkill,  ten  miles,  where  we  breakfasted. 
The  landlady  a  pretty  smart  piece  of  stuff,  not  very  com- 
plaisant. Here  we  were  detained  by  the  rain  for  some  time ; 
then  went  on  two  miles,  and  were  stopped  by  the  rain  at 
Markin's,  three  miles  from  Fishkill  town,  where  I  bought  some 
securities.  Passed  through  Fishkill  town,  which  is  a  pretty 
village,  with  tAvo  handsome  Meeting  Houses,  both  brick ;  one 
I  take  to  be  Episcopalian.  This  is  five  miles  from  the  Ferry ; 
a  fine  road  the  whole  way  we  have  traveled  to-day.     At  the 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  395 

lower  ferry  over  the  Hudson  River,  we  found  only  one  or  two 
houses,  and  crossed  over  to  New  Windsor.  We  furnished  our 
horses  with  hay  in  the  ferry-boat,  so  that  they  ate  all  the  way 
over.  Landed  at  New  Windsor,  a  small  and  very  indifferent 
village  on  the  bank  of  the  Hudson.  Dined  at  How's.  Went 
on  to  Bethlehem,  to  Captain  Harrison's,  or  Brick  Tavern,  five 
miles  from  the  ferry.  Rode  27  miles  to-day,  besides  the  ferry, 
which  is  two.  We  lodged  here  ;  a  tolerable  house,  but  very 
dear.  The  last  five  miles  not  very  good  road,  nor  can  it  be 
called  bad.     27  miles  =  238. 

Tuesday,  July  29.  Set  out  early  this  morning.  A  fine 
morning;  cloudy,  but  no  rain  nor  moisture,  which  we  could 
not  say  of  the  weather  for  eight  days  past.  We  passed 
through  Blooming  Grove,  but  could  not  tell  Avhen  we  entered 
it  or  went  out  of  it.  Houses  scattered  all  the  way,  rather 
poor ;  but  the  road  tolerable,  and  groAving  better  every  mile. 
We  went  on  twelve  miles,  and  breakfasted  at  Yelverton's  tav- 
ern, in  Chester.  An  indifferent  house,  but  good  attendance, 
and  pretty  good  breakfast.  Here  we  shifted  our  linen,  shaved, 
and  dressed  our  hair.  The  sun  now  began  to  shine  very  warm. 
From  this  tavern,  we  went  on  to  Warwick,  and  intended  to  stop 
at  Smith's,  in  the  middle  of  the  village  (nine  miles),  which  ap- 
peared to  be  a  good  tavern ;  but  we  were  told  there  was  a  tav- 
ern one  mile  further  on.  We  found,  however,  the  house  was 
not  at  this  time  a  tavern  :  but  they  entertained  us  very  well, 
and  good  feed  for  our  horses.  It  is  kept  by  Colonel  Thos. 
Hathorn,  ten  miles  from  Yelverton's,  where  we  were  well  en- 
tertained and  at  a  moderate  price.  Set  out  from  this  stage  at 
4  o'clock.  Three  miles  to  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  After 
riding  about  two  and  a  half  miles,  we  were  overtaken  in  a 
shower,  which  was  verv  severe.  We  took  shelter  in  a  barn  at 
a  tavern,  which  was  a  lucky  and  rare  opportunity  for  housing 
a  carriage.  After  the  shower,  we  went  on  to  Walling's  Tavern, 
so  called.  It  is  kept  by  Sears,  a  surly  old  fellow,  very  extrav- 
agant ;  his  son  was  more  complaisant.  This  is  fourteen  miles 
from  Hathorn's.  Road  very  good  all  the  Avay  ;  cool  and  cloudy. 
36  miles  =  274. 

Wednesday,  July  30.     Set  out  just  as  the  sun  rose,   and 
went  on  to  Sussex  Court-house,  fourteen    miles,  road   good. 


396  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

and  breakfasted  at  a  tavern  just  above  the  Court-house,  kept 
by  Jona.  Willis.  This  is  a  pretty  village,  on  the  eastern  side 
and  near  the  summit  of  a  high  hill.  Land  good  ;  houses  in- 
different. Went  into  the  Court-house ;  well  pleased  with  the 
form  of  it  inside  ;  the  building  is  of  stone.  From  this,  the 
road  is  tolerably  good  to  Log  Jail,  or  Town,  ten  miles.  There 
are  very  foAv  houses,  and  those  mostly  miserable  huts.  At 
Log  Jail  or  Log  Town  is  a  poor  tavern,  kept  by  Jones,  a  Jew. 
We^could  get  nothing  but  oats  and  water ;  neither  hay  nor 
grass.     Another  tavern  here,  but  no  better. 

Six  miles  from  Log  Town  is  Hope,  commonly  called  Mora- 
vian Town.  This  is  a  small,  new,  but  very  pretty  village,  the 
houses  mostly  stone,  built  in  Dutch  style.  The  church  or 
chapel  is  a  very  handsome  building,  on  the  top  of  a  hill.  We 
put  up  at  Gamboult's.  While  dinner  was  preparing,  we  took 
a  walk  on  the  green,  and  went  up  to  the  church.  As  soon  as 
we  returned,  a  man  came  in,  and  seemed  to  want  to  know 
whether  we  wished  to  see  the  inside  of  the  church.  I  told 
him  we  were  strangers,  and  should  be  very  happy  to  go  into 
the  church.  He  conducted  us  up  to  the  church,  one  end  of 
which  is  improved  as  a  dwelling-house  for  the  minister,  to 
whom  we  were  introduced ;  the  other  by  the  governess,  for  the 
instruction  of  misses.  The  upper  story  is  a  large  hall,  with 
apartments  at  each  end.  Here  Divine  service  is  performed. 
They  have  a  very  pretty  set  of  organs,  and  the  Minister  played 
us  several  tunes.  They  have  also  French  horns  and  violins. 
The  desk  is  low — nothing  more  than  a  seat  a  little  raised,  with 
a  table  before  it.  He  showed  us  some  paintings  in  his  own 
apartments.  He  was  very  polite,  and  gave  us  his  blessing 
when  we  took  our  leave.  The  Granary  is  the  next  largest 
building.  It  has  a  family  in  it,  and  mills  for  grinding,  bolting, 
etc.     It  is  built  of  stone,  and  three  stories  high. 

The  road  from  Log  Town  here  not  very  good.  Gamboult 
keeps  a  very  good  house,  and  is  very  obliging.  From  there 
we  came  on  twelve  miles  to  White's,  in  Oxford  township. 
Road  not  bad,  but  some  of  it  rocky.  We  put  up  for  the  night. 
White  is  very  obliging  ;  a  good  tavern  for  this  country  ;  beds 
pretty  good.     Fair  and  cool.     32  miles  =  306. 

Thursday,  July  31.     Set  out  this  morning  just  after  sun- 


Life  of  Rev.  Blanasseh  Cutler.  397 

rise.     Twelve    miles    to    East    Town ;    road    not    very    good. 
Crossed  the  Delaware  in  a  good  ferry-boat ;  the  river  not  wide. 
The  Lehigh  enters  the  Delaware  just  below  where  we  landed 
on  the  Pennsylvania  side,  called  The  Forks.     As  soon  as  we 
were  over  the  river,  we  entered   East  Town,  which  is  a  very 
pretty  village,  the  houses  all  stone,  in  the  Dutch  style.     They 
have  a  handsome  Court-house  and  Dutch  church.     There  are 
two  ministers,  and  every  third  Sunday  there  is  preaching  in 
English.     We    breakfasted    at    Hembt's    tavern,    beyond    the 
Court-house.    We  could  get  no  hay  or  grass,  but  were  furnished 
with  a  good  breakfast — bacon  and  eggs,  beef  and  sausages  in 
slices,  raw,  green  tea,  etc.     From  hence  we  went  on  to  Beth- 
lehem, twelve  miles.     A  good  road,  but  only  four  houses  on 
the  road  betAveen  the  two  stages.     When  we  entered  the  town, 
we  put  up  and  dinefl  at  the  only  tavern  in  the  place  ;  a  good 
house,  fine  dinner,  porter  and  cider.     One  of   the  Brethren 
came  and  conducted  us  to  the  unmarried  sisters'  house,  to  the 
private  and  public  chapels  where  they  attend  prayers  (in  the 
private  chapel  are  organs,  violins,  Bass-viols,  spinnets,  etc.), 
to  the  kitchen,  to  all  the  working-rooms — spinning,  weaving, 
and   embroidery ;    then   to   the   unmarried    brethren's    house, 
where  trades  are  carried  on ;  and  to  the  widows'  house,  public 
schools,  water- works,  spring,  linseed  oil  mills,  and  other  water- 
works.    As  we  left  the  house,  we  met  in  the  street  two  men 
from  Muskingum  belonging  to  Killingly.     Went  on  to  Aliens- 
town,  six  miles,  and  crossed  the  Lehigh,  half  a  mile  from  the 
town,  by  a  rope  ferry  ;  then,  in  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile, 
crossed  another  branch  of  the  Lehigh,  called    Jordan.     We 
Avere  obliged  to  ford  it,  but  I  took  out  my  baggage  and  sent  it 
over  in  a  canoe.     We  then  ascended  a  hill  to  Allenstown,  a 
village  of  stone  houses,  some  of  them  considerably  large,  with 
one  or  two  public  buildings  of  stone.     It  Avas  owned  by  one 
Allen,  who   had  a  tolerable   seat  between   the  river  and   the 
toAvn.     The  Avhole  toAvn  belonged  to  him.     He  died  a  few  years 
since.     His  Avidow,  Avhom  I  saAv  (and  a  young  lady),  lives  in 
Philadelphia,  only  when  she  comes  to  collect  her  rents.     She 
was  noAV  at  her  seat.     We  met  her  in  the  road,  with  another 
young  lady,  dressed  in  Avhite.     They  made  an  appearance  so 
dijQTerent  from  the  people  in  this  country,  that  we  were  struck 


398  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

with  admiration.  We  went  on  three  miles  from  this  town,  and 
put  up  at  Aler's  tavern,  nine  miles  from  Bethlehem.  Fair 
and  somewhat  hot,  but  a  good  day  for  traveling. 

Just  before  we  arrived  at  Aler's  Ave  crossed  a  river  called 
Cedar  Creek,  which  rises  from  a  remarkable  spring  described 
by  General  Lincoln  in  M.  A.  A.  It  is  not  far  from  Aler's, 
who  describes  it  much  as  the  General  has  done.  A  large 
mill  stands  within  200  feet  of  the  head  of  the  spring,  which  is 
very  deep.  Large  holes  are  seen  at  the  bottom,  from  which 
the  water  runs  out,  some  of  them  as  large  as  a  man's  body. 
There  is  no  hill  of  any  consideration  near.  Aler's  is  a  very 
good  house  for  a  Dutchman's,  and  not  dear.  A  fine  day. 
33  miles=339. 

Friday^  Aug.  1.  Set  out  just  as  the  sun  rose,  and  went  on 
to  Kamp's,  fourteen  miles,  where  we  breakfasted.  The  roads 
good,  land  excellent,  and  no  considerable  hills.  Five  miles 
from  xVler's  Ave  pass  tAvo  taverns,  and  just  beloAV  them  Ave 
pass  what  is  called  the  Great  Springs — the  bridge  is  over  a 
considerable  river,  and  the  springs  from  Avhich  it  arises  are 
Avithin  a  fcAV  rods  of  the  bridge.  Kamp's  is  a  good  tavern, 
in  the  toAvnship  of  Maxadone.  We  had  a  very  good  breakfast, 
and  not  dear.  Went  on  to  Peter  Schaffer's  tavern,  at  Maiden 
Creek,  thirteen  miles  from  Kamp's.  About  one  mile  from 
Kamp's  Ave  passed  through  CootstoAvn,  a  little  village  of  small 
houses,  compact  on  each  side  of  the  road,  every  house  built 
with  logs  and  stone,  and  nearly  alike.  It  is  a  curious  place. 
Schaffer's  tavern  is  by  the  side  of  the  Schuylkill,  five  miles 
from  Reading.  Here  Ave  dined.  This  is  a  genuine  Dutch 
tavern,  but  Ave  fared  tolerably.  The  roads  are  very  good,  fine 
land,  but  thinly  settled.  Went  on  to  Reading,  five  miles,  and 
stopped  to  oat  at  Whiteman's  tavern,  north-west  of  and  near 
the  court-house.  This  is  a  pretty  town,  Avith  tAvo  market- 
houses,  Avide  streets,  a  court-house,  and  one  Meeting  House, 
pretty  large.  There  are  400  houses  in  the  town,  none  very 
elegant,  in  my  opinion,  as  they  are  not  in  the  Ncav  England 
style,  Avhich  Avill  always  be  the  criterion  of  beauty  with  the 
New  England  man. 

Purchased  some  tea,  and  set  out  for  the  Sinking  Spring. 
Crossed  the  Schuylkill,  just  above  the  toAvn,  in  a  boat  very 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler.  399 

convenient  for  carriages.  It  is  a  rope-ferry,  and  by  a  large 
block  through  which  the  large  rope  passes,  and  a  tackle  at 
each  end  of  the  boat,  the  stream  carries  the  boat  from  side 
to  side  without  oars,  setting  poles,  or  rudder.  One  of  the 
tackles  is  slackened,  so  as  that  the  boat  lies  at  an  angle  of 
forty-five  degrees,  nearly,  with  the  rope  that  extends  across 
the  river.  Tlie  road  is  naturally  good,  but  at  this  time  it  is 
excessively  bad,  owing  to  the  rains,  and  the  road  being  cut 
up  with  heavy  wagons.  The  earth  is  as  stiff  as  if  it  had  been 
frozen,  and  when  there  is  water  it  is  like  a  bed  of  clay  mor- 
tar. Our  horses  could  only  walk.  Sinking  Spring  is  five  miles 
from  Reading.  The  tavern  is  kept  by  Muggle.  Here  is  a  very 
large  spring,  which  sinks  down  in  dry  weather,  hence  called 
Sinking  Spring.  Dachar  used  to  keep  this  tavern.  The  day 
has  been  fine,  though  somcAvhat  hot.     28  miles  =:  367. 

Saturday,  August  2.  Set  out  just  after  sunrise.  The 
roads  naturally  good,  but  noAv  very  bad ;  could  only  walk  the 
greater  part  of  the  first  stage.  Land  excellent.  Breakfasted 
at  Wegelien's  tavern,  seven  miles  from  the  Spring.  Wegelien 
keeps  a  tolerable  tavern.  It  is  in  the  toAvnship  of  Heidelburg. 
From  this  tavern  we  traveled  through  Womelsdorf  Town, 
three  miles — a  pretty  Dutch  village.  From  this  village  to 
Myers  Town,  another  village,  is  seven  miles.  This  village 
stands  on  each  side  of  the  street  in  a  straight  line,  the 
houses  all  new,  appear  to  have  been  lately  built ;  all  Dutch. 
It  seems  to  have  groAvn  up  suddenly  in  the  woods.  We  went 
on  seven  miles  further  to  Lebanon,  seventeen  miles  from 
where  we  breakfasted.  This  place  is  as  large,  nearly,  as 
Reading,  and. is  laid  out  in,  squares — Dutch  buildings;  some 
considerably  elegant,  mostly  of  stone.  A  market  near  the 
tavern  where  we  dined.  The  tavern  is  kept  by  Gruenawald, 
and  is,  I  believe,  a  good  house.  The  road  from  Wegelien's 
has  been  excessively  bad,  almost  to  this  town,  occasioned  by 
the  wet  weather.  Land  very  fine,  mostly,  and  very  level,  much 
of  it  uncultivated,  in  groves  not  fenced.  There  are  several 
limestone  quarries,  which  cross  the  road,  and  are  somewhat 
bad,  but  there  is  not  a  great  number. 

From  this  stage  we  went  on  to  the  sign  of  the  White  Horse — 


O' 


Wm.  Palm,  a  very  obliging  Dutchman.     His  wife  is  the  hand- 


400  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

somest,  smartest,  and  most  delicate  Dutchwoman  we  have  seen 
on  the  road ;  we  could  hardly  l)elieve  her  to  be  one,  though 
she  assured  us  she  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  over  when 
a  child.  Very  reasonable  in  the  demand.  We  passed  through 
Millerstown,  a  considerable  village,  entirely  new,  about 
three  or  four  miles  from  Lebanon.  Palm's  is  ten  miles  from 
Lebanon.  A  good  road  and  fine  land.  It  was  cool  and 
cloudy,  with  an  appearance  of  rain  ;  we  therefore  went  on  to 
Humbletown,  nine  miles.  A  good  road.  At  Humbletown  we 
put  up  at  McRham's,  next  door  to  Lincoln's  the  big  stone 
house.  Good  attendance  and  beds  ;  very  neat  and  obliging. 
Rode  43  miles  to-day,  very  much  fatigued,  but  our  horses  in 
good  spirits. 

Sunday,  August  3.  We  lay  abed  late  this  morning,  intend- 
ing not  to  travel  far.  Shifted  and  dressed  this  morning.  We 
found  this  the  best  house  we  have  been  at  since  we  left  home, 
and  very  cheap.  Breakfasted  and  set  out  at  nine.  Went  on 
to  Harrisburg,  nine  miles.  This  is  a  beautiful  town  ;  it  con- 
tains about  one  hundred  houses,  all  built  in  less  than  three 
years,  many  of  them  brick,  some  three  stories,  built  in  the 
Philadelphia  style,  and  all  appear  very  neat.  A  great  num- 
ber of  taverns,  with  handsome  signs,  houses  two  stories,  and 
large  windows.  About  one-half  the  people  here  are  En- 
glish. People  were  going  to  meeting  in  a  private  house  ;  no 
churches  yet.  The  people  appear  very  well  dressed — some 
gay.  About  a  mile  from  the  last  stage  I  ferried  over  a  branch 
of  the  Susquehanna,  called  Sweet  Aaron's  Creek.  Mr.  Ken- 
dall and  Mr.  Oliver  forded.  Just  as  we  entered  Harrisburg, 
we  forded  another  small  creek,  called  Paxton's  Creek.  This 
tavern  is  kept  by  Crebb  ;  a  good  house. 

We  met  this  morning  tAvo  men  from  the  Muskingum,  belong- 
ing to  Waterbury,  in  Connecticut.  They  inform  us  of  the 
mischief  done  by  the  Lidians,  and  the  improbability  of  a 
Treaty.  We  crossed  the  river  opposite  to  the  town.  There  is 
an  island  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  about  a  mile  from  each 
shore ;  the  water  is  not  deep,  and  is  often  forded  in  the  sum- 
mer. We  went  on  seven  miles  to  Pollock's  tavern.  A  fat 
Irishman  gave  us  a  grand  dinner,  but  our  horses  fared  badly ; 
intolerably  dear.     Went    on    at    five    o'clock  to  Carlisle,  ten 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  401 

miles,  where  "\ve  lodged,  seventeen  miles  from  the  Susque- 
hanna. Roads  naturally  good,  but  now  intolerable  ;  very  level. 
Carlisle  is  a  larger  town  than  Reading,  stands  on  a  plain,  blue 
hills  to  the  north,  and  a  range  of  mountains  south.  The 
houses  are  many  of  them  large  and  well  built,  but  very  heavy  • 
bad  taste  for  building.  A  square  in  the  center  for  public 
buildings  ;  court-house  and  church  within  it.  Just  before  we 
came  to  the  town,  we  saw  on  our  left  the  barracks.  They  are 
built  of  brick  in  four  ranges,  one  at  the  end.  They  appeared 
like  colleges — an  immense  pile  of  buildings,  far  exceeding 
any  thing  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Lodged  at  Foster's, 
south-west  of  the  Court-house  ;  a  good  house.  A  Mr.  Mould 
was  here,  on  his  way  to  Fort  Pitt  with  his  family  and  one 
other.  They  had  a  coach  and  three  wagons.  Very  hot  day. 
26  miles  =  436. 

3Tonday,  Aug.  4.  I  rose  early,  but  did  not  set  out  till 
seven.  Breakfasted  at  Sample's,  a  good  house,  seven  miles. 
Roads  intolerable.  Went  on  to  Shippensburg,  fourteen  miles, 
with  only  stopping  a  few  minutes  at  McClogin's,  seven  miles 
from  Sample's.  We  put  up  at  McCandle's  ;  every  attention 
was  paid  us,  although  they  Avere  not  well  provided.  Dined  ; 
had  our  horses'  shoes  examined,  and  a  strap  put  under  one  of 
the  thills  of  my  sulky.  This  is  a  new  but  large  town,  in  one 
street  about  150  houses,  some  tolerable  good  ones.  Set  out 
at  five  for  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  to  Keeser's.  Broke  the 
forepiece  of  my  sulky,  Avhich  detained  us.  Road  very  wet  in 
places.  At  five  miles'  distance,  night  came  on ;  when  dark, 
the  roads  excessive  bad,  being  new  and  wet ;  we  had  a  shock- 
ing time.  Arrived  at  Keeser's  at  10  o'clock.  This  is  a  Dutch 
house,  the  landlord  obliging,  l)ut  the  house  bad  in  itself.  We 
were  turned  into  a  hot,  log  chamber,  full  of  people,  and  were 
kept  awake  almost  all  night  by  a  crazy  woman.  Slept  a  little 
in  the  morning,  as  we  proposed  to  rest  a  day  at  this  house. 
We  had  a  very  hot  day.     31  miles  =  467. 

Tuesday,  Aug.  5.     Got  my   sulky  mended    this    morning. 

Here  we  met  with  Mr.  Colt,  from  Massachusetts,  going  on  to 

the   Ohio,  Avho  had  been  but  little  before  us  from  Litchfield. 

He  oflFered  to  exchange  horses,  though  mine  held  out  exceed- 

26 


402  Life  of  Rev.  3Iana8seh  Cutler. 

ingly  -u-ell.  Put  his  horse  in  my  carriage,  and  went  over  Blue 
Mountain,  the  first  that  we  ascend.  It  is  long,  in  some  parts 
steep,  but  steepest  in  descending ;  the  road  rock,  some  of  it 
very  good,  except  the  extreme  length,  which  is  three  miles. 
We  now  came  into  Horse  Valley,  and  breakfasted  at  Skinner's, 
who  has  had  the  superintendency,  and  was  the  principal  man 
i-n  making  the  new  roads.  Here,  I  concluded  to  leave  my 
sulky,  and  go  on  horseback,  as  I  can  travel  fiister,  and  no 
pleasure  can  be  taken  in  a  carriage.  Mr.  Skinner  very  oblig- 
ino-ly  furnished  me  with  saddle,  saddle-bags-,  etc.  While  I 
was  preparing,  Mr.  Rogers,  of  Ipswich,  came  up,  on  his  way 
home,  and  brought  me  letters  from  Muskingum.  Wrote  to 
Mrs.  Cutler,  but  only  a  line. 

From  Skinner's  we  ascend  the  Middle  Mountain.  This,  in 
places,  is  steep ;  though  much  has  been  done  to  the  roads, 
the  descent  is  steep.  We  passed  through  Path  A^ alley,  and 
ascended  Tuscarara  Mountain — long,  but  the  road  mostly 
good,  descent  steep — and  came  into  Ahwick  Valley.  Made  a 
stage  at  Jennison's,  about  two  miles  from  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  only  to  oat,  and  went  on  to  Burd's,  a  fine  house, 
where  we  were  provided  with  every  thing  we  wished  for.  This 
is  twelve  miles  from  Skinner's.  The  road  from  Jennison's  to 
this  house  is  mostly  good,  some  few  sharp  pitches.  This  is 
Fort  Littleton,  and  there  are  some  pretty  plantations.  A  fine 
day,  except  very  hot.     15  miles  =  481. 

Wednesday,  Aug.  6.  Set  out  early  this  morning.  Bill  very 
high,  though  we  had  good  food,  beds,  and  feed.  The  road 
very  good  for  some  ways.  Nine  miles  from  this  we  begin  to 
ascend  Sideling  Hill.  The  hill  has  very  little  ascent  in  the 
new  road,  on  which  they  were  now  at  v.ork.  Some  part  is 
not  yet  completed.  When  finished,  it  must  be  called  a  good 
road  for  this  country.  It  is  seven  miles  over  the  hills.  We 
found  a  bit  of  a  tavern  at  the  foot  of  the  hill — Tate's  tavern. 
We  got  some  oats  and  rye,  but  could  get  nothing  to  eat.  Af- 
ter  oating,  we  went  on  to  Martin's,  two  miles,  which  made  our 
morning  stage  eighteen  miles.  We  arrived  at  1  o'clock,  when 
we  breakfasted  and  dined  in  the  same  meal.  A  tolerable  tav- 
ern for  provision  for  man  and  horse.  Here  we  met  a  Packer 
with  ten  pack-horses,  loaded  principally  with  ginseng  in  bar- 


Life  of  Eev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  403 

rels,  two  barrels  on  a  pack-horse.  Price  at  Fort  Pitt,  two 
shillings  ;  at  Carlisle,  five  shillings.  Met  a  great  number  of 
these  Packers,  but  the  wagon  struck  us  with  astonishment. 
Just  at  jNIartin's,  before  we  came  to  his  house,  we  crossed  the 
Juniata,  a  branch  of  the  Susquehanna.  Went  on  for  Bedford, 
fourteen  miles.  We  rode  much  of  the  way  in  view  of  the  Ju- 
niata, frequently  on  the  very  banks ;  roads  pretty  good.  Before 
we  got  six  miles,  and  at  about  two  miles,  we  passed  the  nar- 
rows or  gaps  of  two  ranges  of  high  mountains ;  we  could  not 
learn  the  names.  A  mile  this  side  of  Bedford  we  crossed  the 
Juniata,  or  a  branch  of  it,  on  a  good  but  long  bridge.  It  was 
davlio-ht-in  when  we  arrived  at  Bedford.  It  is  the  shire-town 
of  the  County  of  Bedford  (the  poorest  county  in  Pennsylva- 
nia) ;  a  pretty  large  cluster  of  houses,  on  low  ground,  sur- 
rounded by  mountains.  The  Juniata  passes  near  these  houses. 
Some  of  the  buildings  are  pretty  large,  and  appear  well. 

Judge  Symmes*  had  taken  lodging  at  the  best  tavern.  We, 
however,  made  shift  to  get  lodgings  in  the  same  house,  Mr. 
Wertz',  a  Dutchman.  Judge  Symmes  was  complaisant.  I  had 
a  letter  to  him  from  his  brother,  at  Sussex  Court-house.  He 
has  his  daughter  with  him,  a  very  pretty  young  lady  ;  one  or 
two  women  with  their  husbands ;  six  heavy  wagons,  one  stage 


*  John  Cleves  Symmes  was  born  on  Long  Island  1742.  Removed  to 
New  Jersey,  and  was  prominent  during  the  Revolution  as  Colonel  of  a 
Militia  Regiment  in  active  field  service.  He  was  one  year  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  New  Jersey  ;  six  years  a  member  of  the  Council ;  two  years  a 
a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  twelve  ye;us  a  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey.  In  August,  17<S7,  Judge  Symmes,  en- 
couraged by  the  success  of  the  Ohio  Company,  obtained  from  Congress 
a  grant  for  a  purcliase  of  a  tract  of  land  fronting  on  the  Ohio  River 
between  the  two  Miamis  and  extending  north  to  the  10th  Township 
Having  been  unable  to  pay  for  the  wliole,  after  much  negotiation,  he 
closed  a  contract,  in  1792,  for  1,000,0U0  acres.  The  continued  rise  in 
Government  securities  made  it  impossible  to  pay  for  this,  and  in  1794  a 
patent  was  granted  him  for  between  oOO,0()0  and  400,0U0  acres,  includ- 
ing the  fiont  on  the  Oliio  River  and  extending  back  to  the  K>d  Township. 
He  wa>  appointed  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  North-west  Territory,  178S. 
He  died,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  1814.  Judge  Symmes  was  three  times  mar' 
ried.  He  left  two  daughters— one,  Maria,  married  Major  Peyton  Short ; 
one,  Anna,  became  the  wife  of  William  Henry  Harrison,  afterward 
President  of  the  United  States. — Stc  McBridc's  Pioneer  Biography. 


404  Life  of  Rev.  Manassch  Cutler. 

wagon,  and  a  cliair ;  thirty-one  horses ;  three  carpenters,  and 
one  mason.  Has  been  out  three  weeks.  Fair  clay,  not  ex- 
cessive hot,  but  we  found  it  hard  to  get  on  32  miles  =  513. 

Thursday^  Aug.  7.  Rose  early  this  morning.  So  foggy 
that  we  could  see  little  of  the  town.  Set  out  just  after  sun- 
rise. Judge  Symmes'  wagons  were  nearly  ready  to  start  when 
Ave  left  the  house.  A  company  of  soldiers  encamped  one  and 
a  half  miles  out  of  town,  but  had  moved  off  the  ground  before 
we  got  up  ;  about  sixty  ;  did  not  see  them.  They  took  the 
Pittsburg  road  four  miles  from  Bedford  ;  we  took  the  Glade 
road  to  the  left.  This  is  a  fine  road  to  Peter  Wurtz's,  where 
we  breakfasted ;  roads  fine ;  Buffalo  Mountain  on  our  left. 
This  tavern  is  in  Buffalo  Valley ;  the  road  good  from  Bedford. 
"We  forded  two  pretty  large  branches  of  the  Juniata,  or  perhaps 
the  same  twice ;  not  very  deep.  This  is  a  good  house,  kept 
by  a  Dutchman,  very  obliging;  good  food  for  man  and  horse, 
and  not  high.  From  this,  there  is  a  tavern  about  six  miles 
distant,  .where  we  saw  Major  White's  wagon.  Four  miles 
further  is  another  bit  of  a  tavern,  but  nothirig  to  be  had  for 
man  or  horse.  At  the  last  tavern,  by  mistake,  we  left  the 
wagon  road,  on  which  we  should  have  found  a  tavern  five  miles 
further ;  but  we  went  on  in  an  old  road,  where  some  people 
had  just  passed,  until  we  were  very  anxious,  apprehen<lin^ 
ourselves  in  a  wrong  road,  but  determined  to  pursue  it  until 
we  came  to  some  habitation.  We  passed  an  old  empty  cabin, 
where  we  found  fine  feed  in  the  road,  clover  mid-leg  high^  and 
here  we  baited  our  horses  for  some  time.  We  then  began  to 
ascend  the  Alleghany  Mountains ;  our  ascent  pretty  steep  ;  very 
anxious.  We  traveled  from  the  last  tavern  eleven  miles  before 
we  came  to  a  house.  Before  we  began  to  descend  the  Alle- 
ghany Mountains,  we  came  into  the  wagon  road,  which  relieved 
our  fears.  We  baited  our  horses  for  a  few  minutes  at  the  first 
house,  a  Dutch  cabin.  The  descent  of  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tains is  not  steep,  but  the  road  is  new  and  bad.  We  went  on 
to  Black's,  in  the  Glades,  twenty-three  miles  from  our  last 
stage,  where  we  breakfasted,  without  eating  or  drinking  any 
thing  but  water  by  the  way,  and  arrived  about  sunset.  A 
fine,  cool  day.     From  this  place,  the  waters   run  Avest.     The 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseli  Cutler.  4C5 

Alleahany  Mountains  is  the  line  between  the  east  and  west 
waters.     Two  springs  Avithin  a  stone's  throw.     30  miles  =543. 

Friday,  Aug.  8.  This  is  a  pretty  good  house  for  this  coun- 
try, a  good  plantation,  and  prices  reasonable.  Went  on  just 
after  sunrise.  At  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Black's,  stopped 
and  had  my  horse  shod.  Two  Dutch  families  here,  who  wish 
to  go  to  Muskingum.  Our  next  stage  at  Coldpenny's  tavern, 
nine  and  a  half  miles  from  Black's.  lioad  passable,  and  break- 
fast tolerable  good.  A  prodigious  number  of  pack-horses  at 
this  stage. 

Went  on  six  miles  to  Laurel  Mountain.  The  ascent  not 
steep  ;  moderately  good  over  the  mountain  to  the  descent,  ex- 
cept muddy  and  wet ;  but  the  descent  is  very  steep  ;  the  road 
tolerable  after  we  got  to  the  bottom.  It  is  ten  miles  over  this 
mountain.  A  poor  French  house  six  miles  on,  but  nothing  to 
be  had  ;  and  at  the  foot  west  is  a  poor  house — not  much  to  be 
had.  Went  on  three  miles  to  Anfret's,  a  Dutch  house,  on 
Chestnut  Ridge,  Avhere  we  lodged.  Dark  before  we  arrived. 
Here  we  dined  and  supped  in  the  same  meal ;  good  keeping 
for  horses  and  passable  for  ourselves.  Traveled  to-day  twenty- 
eight  miles.  Cool,  rainy  afternoon  ;  eat  up  with  fleas  at  night. 
28  miles  =  571. 

Saturday,  Aug.  9.  Did  not  set  out  very  early.  Went  on 
to  Mount  Pleasant  township,  seven  miles,  and  breakfasted  at 
Kneely's  tavern,  a  good  house.  From  this,  we  proceeded  to 
Sumrell's  Ferry,  thirteen  miles.  Four  miles  short  of  the  ferry, 
I  stopped  to  see  Jervis,  at  Brown's  and  Burnham's.  Jervis 
was  gone  to  Hannah's  Town.  Got  Mr.  Brown  to  go  after 
him,  and  Avent  on  to  Sumrell's.  Major  Coburn*  and  family, 
with  two  wagons,  came  here  this  evening.  We  crossed 
Youghiogheny  River  just  before  Ave  came  to  Sumrell's. 
Here  Ave   found   Captain  Bartlett  f   and    family.  Bill  Dodge, 


*  Major  Asa  Coburn,  who  came  to  Marietta  in  the  latter  part  of  1788, 
was  one  of  three  bi'others  who  entered  the  Colonial  army  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  Revolution.  Phineas,  eldest  son  of  Major  Coburn,  joined 
the  first  company  of  Ohio  emigrants.  Major  Coburn  died  at  Water- 
ford,  during  the  Indian  War. — Hi&lory  of  Washbigion  Co.,  Oliio. 

f  Cnptain  William  Bartlett,  Naval  Agent  (by  appointment  of  General 
Washington)  at  the  port  of  Beverly,  Mass.,  during  the   Revolutionary 


406  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

Gushing,*  and  Chcever.  House  very  full ;  not  very  -well  ac- 
commodated. Colonel  May  just  arrived  from  Muskingum,  on 
his  way  to  Boston.  Wrote  to  Mrs.  Cutler.  The  road  to-day 
most  of  it  good  ;  some  bad  hills  ;  a  little  rain,  but  rather  cool. 
Extremely  fatigued.     20  miles  =  591. 

Sundaij,  Aug.  10.  Felt  my  fatigue  most  sensibly  but  could 
not  get  excused  from  going  six  miles  to  meeting.  An  exces- 
sively bad  road.  Mr.  Finley  is  the  minister.  He  has  two 
congregations,  eight  miles  distant.  The  Meeting  House  is  in 
the  woods  ;  no  house  near  ;  a  large  congregation.  Supposed 
three  or  four  hundred  horses ;  made  a  curious  appearance. 
The  congregation  appeared  Avell.  I  preached  in  the  afternoon. 
We  had  half  an  hour  intermission.  When  I  got  back  to  Sum- 
rell's,  I  was  almost  ready  to  give  up  the  thought  of  going 
further.     Cool  day. 

dlonday,  Aug.  11.  Major  Coburn  very  sick  yesterday.  I 
advised  him  an  emetic  of  blood-root,  to  remove  a  heavy  load 
at  his  stomach.  It  operated  kindly  as  an  emetic  and  cathartic, 
but  the  pain  in  his  stomach  and  side  was  severe  still  when  I 
returned  from  meeting.  I  therefore  opened  a  vein,  which  gave 
him  relief,  and  this  morning  he  set  out  on  his  journey  ;  his 


War,  was  born  in  Beverly,  in  1741  ;  moved  to  Westmoreland  County, 
Penn.,  in  1785,  and  died  there  in  1794.  Letters  of  Mrs.  Bartlett  to  her 
friends  in  Massachusetts,  in  which  the  above  visit  of  Dr.  Cutler  to 
them  is  spoken  of,  are  in  possession  of  Captain  Bartlett's  great-grand- 
children, now  living  in  Marietta.  Captain  Bartlett's  son  Henry  came 
from  Sumrell's  ferry  to  Marietta  in  1706;  sjjent  the  winter  of  179G-97 
in  the  stockade,  and  moved  to  Athens  in  179G,  and  settled  on  lands 
belonging  to  his  father's  share  in  the  Ohio  Compnny.  He  was  for 
many  years  Clerk  of  the  Courts  in  that  ounty,  and  Secretary  of  the 
Trustees  of  the  Ohio  University.  He  died  in  Athens,  in  1850,  aged  79. 
*  Nathaniel  Cushing  was  born  in  Pembroke.  Mas.'.,  1753.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Heath,  1775.  During  the  Revolutionary  Wai-,  he  served 
as  Lieutenant  in  Brewer's  Regiment,  Captain  in  the  Sixth  Mas.<acliu- 
setts,  and  won  the  brevet  of  Miijor.  He  came  to  ^Marietta,  Ohio,  with 
his  family,  in  1788,  and,  with  Major  Goodale  and  others,  settled  at 
Belpre,  1789.  He  was  commissioned  Cajitain  in  the  First  Regiment, 
Territorial  Militia,  1788,  and  Colonel,  1797.  After  Major  Goodale's 
capture,  he  commanded  the  garrison  at  Farmers'  Castle.  Colonel 
Cushing  and  his  wife  both  died  at  Belpre,  1814. — S^e  Ilildreth's  Lives  of 
{he  Early  Settlers  of  Ohio. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  407 

case  bilious.  Jevvis  came  over  tliis  morning.  Thought  best 
he  should  continue  here  in  his  school.  We  set  out  about  11 
o'clock,  and  went  on  eight  miles,  and  crossed  Monongahela  at 
Devour's  ferry ;  a  fine  river.  Dined  just  over  it,  at  Parkin- 
son's ;  tolerable  house.  Went  on  eight  miles  to  another  Park- 
inson's ;  a  most  excellent  road.  Parkinson  keeps  a  good 
house.  Diversion  at  shooting  with  his  rifle.  This  is  Notting- 
ham toAvnship.     16  miles  =^  607. 

Tuesday^  Aug.  12.  Rose  at  day-break ;  set  out  as  the  sun 
rose.  Major  Kendall  made  a  fine  shot  at  a  chicken,  and  won 
half  a  pint  of  whisky.  W^ent  on,  and  breakfasted  at  Wash- 
ington, which  used  to  be  called  Catfish.  It  is  a  street  of 
houses,  all  new — stumps  in  the  street.  There  are  some  hand- 
some buildings — a  Court-house  and  jail — in  the  center  of  the 
little  city.  This  is  eleven  miles  from  Parkinson's  ;  fine  road. 
After  breakfast  went  on  to  Wells',  sixteen  miles,  no  stage  be- 
tween, mostly  woods,  but  a  very  good  road,  no  stones  nor  con- 
siderable hills.  Arrived  at  AYells'  about  three,  and  put  up. 
Here  we  found  Mr.  McFarland  and  his  brother,  from  Haver- 
hill, Mr.  Sawyer,*  and  Mr.  Porter. f  We  were  Avell  enter- 
tained for  this  country.  Fine  gardens,  mills,  tannery,  etc. 
27  miles  =  634. 

Wednesday,  Aug.  13.  Diverted  ourselves  this  morning 
shooting  squirrels.  Before  dinner  Captain  Cooper,  who  came 
up  in  the  Ohio  Company's  large  boat,  came  hei'e  to  incjuire  for 
Major  Coburn.  After  dinner  we  set  out  for  the  mouth  of 
Buffalo,  in  company  with  Captain  Cooper.  Went  to  Charles 
Wells',  Esq.,  which  is  about  a  mile  over  the  line  between 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  This  line  is  cut  about  twenty 
feet  wide  through  the  woods,  and  makes  a  singular  appearance. 

At  this  place  we  agreed  to  put  up  our  horses  at  one  dollar 
per  month,  oats  at  3s.  per  bushel  to  feed  my  horse  two  weeks, 


■*^  Nathaniel  Sawyer  was  born  in  Haverliill,  Massachusetts,  May  12, 
1757.'  Manied  Lydia,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Porter,  of  Ipswich  (Ham- 
let), April  18,  1778.  Settled  at  Ilannahstowii,  Westmoreland  county, 
Pennsylvania. — Porter  Gencalor;y. 

fEbenezer  Porter,  born  in  Ipswich  (Ilamlet),  July  27,  1732;  married 
Lydia,  daughter  of  Thomas  Cummings;  died  at  Little  Ilockhocking, 
Ohio,  February  24,  1827. 


408  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

twice  a  day.  This  is  four  miles  from  Alex.  Wells'.  We  Avent 
on  to  Buffalo,  Avhicli  is  six  miles  as  the  road  goes,  but,  by  at- 
tempting to  get  into  another  road,  Ave  lost  our  Avay,  and  trav- 
eled the  whole  way  in  the  woods,  in  a  foot-path,  over  shocking 
hills.  This  made  it  late  at  night  before  we  arrived  at  the 
house  Avhere  General  Tupper  was.  Lodged  on  the  floor;  peo- 
ple kind.  Mr.  Prather's.  This  is  called  Coxe's  Fort.  10 
miles  =  644. 

Thursday,  Aug.  14.  This  morning  we  went  down  to  the 
Ohio  River,  one-fourth  of  a  mile,  Avhere  Ave  had  the  first  sight 
of  this  beautiful  river.  It  is  noAV  very  Ioav.  Mr.  Prather, 
Avhere  Ave  are  lodged,  Avent  Avith  us.  He  bid  me  welcome  to 
his  house  Avhile  I  tarried.  In  the  afternoon  went  to  the  Fort, 
where  Avere  Major  Goodale  *  and  others  going  doAvn  in  the 
boat.  This  Fort  is  a  little  stockade  for  the  defense  of  this 
neighborhood.  Several  small  houses  Avithin  the  stockade. 
SAvearingen's  is  the  principal  family.  It  Avas  proposed  that  a 
sermon  should  have  been  delivered,  and  the  people  Avere  noti- 
fied, but  it  rained  in  the  afternoon,  Avhich  ])revented.  The 
Yankee  singers  collected,  and  sang  a  number  of  tunes  ;  Ave 
then  attended  prayers.     Returned  to  Mr.  Prather's. 

Friday,  August  15.  This  morning  Ave  Avent  pretty  early  to 
the  boat.  General  Tupper  had  mentioned  to  me  a  mode  for 
constructing  a  machine  to  Avork  in  the  head  or  stern  of  a  boat 
instead  of  oars.  It  appeared  to  me  highly  probable  it  might 
succeed.  I  therefore  proposed  that  Ave  should  make  the  ex- 
periment. Assisted  by  a  number  of  the  people,  Ave  Avent  to 
AVork,  and  constructed  a  machine  in  the  form  of  a  scrcAV  Avitli 


*  Nathan  Goodale  was  born  in  Prookfield,  Ma«s.,  in  1743.  Tie  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  War  as  a  Lieutenant  in  Brewer's  regiment,  as- 
sistant Engineer  to  Colonel  Rufus  Putnam  (when  he  was  acting  Chief 
Engineer  of  the  army),  C.iptain  in  the  Fifth  Massachusetts,  and  Major. 
His  promotion  to  Major  was  in  consequence  of  a  highly  commendatory 
letter  from  General  Rufus  Putnam  to  General  Washington.  Major 
Goodale  was  once  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  British,  and  twice 
Avounded.  He  came  to  Ohio  with  his  family  in  1  7SS.  In  1789  he  set- 
tled in  Belpre,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  War  w'as  jjlaced  in 
command  of  Farmers'  Castle,  as  the  fort  at  Belpre  was  called.  In  1793 
he  was  captui'ed  by  the  Indians.  His  fate  was  never  certainly  ascer- 
tained.— See  Ilildreth's  Lives  of  the  Early  Settlers  of  Ohio. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  409 

short  blades,  and  placed  it  in  the  stern  of  the  boat,  which  we 
turned  with  a  crank.  It  succeeded  to  admiration,  and  I  think 
it  a  very  useful  discovery.  Just  at  night  we  attended  public 
worship  at  the  Fort.     Major  Coburn  arrived. 

Saturday,  Aug.  16.  This  morning  Mr.  Prather  and  I  went 
to  the  boat ;  began  to  take  on  board  the  wagons.  We  went 
down  in  a  boat  with  General  Tupper  to  sound  as  far  as  Buffalo 
Creek,  one  mile  below  our  landing,  the  river  being  very  low, 
and  having  fallen  since  yesterday.  Mr.  Prather  and  I  went 
up  his  bottom,  and  examined  the  ground  where  he  is  going  to 
lay  out  a  town,  at  the  mouth  of  Buffalo  Creek.  Exaijiined 
several  vegetables,  the  Pawpaw,  Ipecac,  Redbud,  Spanish  Oak, 
Honey-locust,  Aspen,  Black-poplar,  Poultice-root,  etc.  After 
dinner  grot  on  our  stock  ;  the  boat  would  not  float.  The  after- 
noon  was  spent  in  attempting  to  get  her  into  the  channel, 
which  was  not  accomplished  until  dark.  Returned  to  our 
lodsrincfs.  As  Mr.  Prather  had  bid  me  welcome,  and  would 
take  nothing,  I  was  unwilling  to  return,  but  it  was  unavoid- 
able.    Fair  day. 

Sunday,  Aug.  17.  This  morning  rose  early.  The  people 
got  on  board  at  9  o'clock.  Went  past  Buffalo  Creek  before 
Ave  could  get  the  cattle  on  board.  Took  our  leave  very  cor- 
dially of  Mr.  Prather  and  family,  who  went  so  far  Avith  us. 
Went  down  the  river,  Avhich  is  a  most  delightful  stream,  very 
romantic.  At  seven  miles  from  Buffalo  Ave  passed  a  Post  on 
the  Federal  side,  commanded  by  Captain  McMahon,  Virginia 
militia.  A  number  of  huts,  men,  Avomen,  and  children.  A 
mile  beloAv  this  Ave  make  a  stop  at  Short  Creek,  for  four  bar- 
rels of  flour.  The  creek  very  small.  BeloAv  this  Ave  passed 
two  or  three  islands,  very  romantic.  Went  on  to  Wheeling, 
eighteen  miles,  Avhere  Ave  arrived  about  5  o'clock,  and  landed 
our  cattle.     Lodged  at  Esquire  Zane's.*     Place  been  fortified 

*The  ancestors  of  Colonel  Ebenezer  Zane  came  over  with  Willinni 
Penn,  at  the  first  settlement  of  Philadelphia.  The  ground  where  the 
city  of  Wheeling  now  stands  was  explored  in  1769  by  Colonel  Ebenezer 
Zane  and  his  two  brothers,  Jonathan  and  Silas.  Tiiey  leaioved  here 
from  the  south  branch  of  the  Potomac. — Dr.  S.  P.  HilJreth. 

Ebenezer  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention  held  at  Richmond 
in  178S  to  consider  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution. — Note  to 
Colonel  J\Iay  s  Journeys  to  the  Ohio  Country. 


410  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

— a  pretty  settlement.  Opposite  to  liis  house  is  a  very  rich  and 
fine  isLand  of  300  acres.  Lodged  on  the  floor,  ^vith  a  bit  of  a 
cot.  Slept  very  little.  Cooked  provisions  for  two  days. 
Fair  day.     Wheeling  18  miles  =  662. 

Monday,  Aug.  18.  This  morning  Esquire  Zane  showed  me 
his  rice  in  his  garden,  about  a  rod  square,  in  six  drills. 
Horses,  a  few  nights  before,  got  in  and  cropped  it.  He  as- 
sured me  it  would  have  yielded  two  bushels.  He  has  raised 
ten  bushels  from  four  rods  square.  It  grows  upon  a  high 
bank,  on  a  somewhat  sandy  second  bottom.  Has  now  good 
rice  on  his  island.  The  seed  must  be  obtained  in  the  chafif. 
We  ou'i-ht  to  iret  seed  from  Carolina,  and  the  mode  of  cleans- 
ing.  He  pounds  it  in  a  mortar  as  he  needs  it.  He  raises 
cotton.  Wants  information  in  pruning  the  plant ;  it  is  an- 
nual. Both  rice  and  cotton  should  be  put  m  the  ground 
very  early,  by  the  middle  of  April ;  no  frost  after  this  time. 
He  has  raised  good  indigo,  and  says  we  may  cultivate  as  much 
as  we  please.  He  raises  excellent  tobacco  ;  has  a  fine  bottom, 
•well  cleared.  He  is  very  generous.  Requested  me  to  call 
again.  Fine  orchard,  and  large  nursery  of  peaches — offered 
to  give  me  two  or  three  hundred.  Nine  o'clock  before  Ave  got 
our  cattle  on  board ;  left  Wheeling  about  ten.  Went  down 
the  river  very  easy.  At  twelve  miles  from  Wheeling  we  came 
to  Grave  Creek,  on  the  Virginia  side,  and  went  on  shore  to 
see  the  monument.  It  is  on  a  plain,  and  raised  sixty  feet, 
round,  and  a  ditch  all  around  ;  covered  with  trees — a  white 
oak  four  feet  in  diameter  near  the  summit — cavity  in  the 
middle  covered  with  sow-tits.  Fine  fruit  in  plenty.  Went  to 
the  houses  ;  fine  orchard.     Saw  one  or  two  small  mounds. 

Divided  ourselves  into  five  reliefs  at  rowing  at  night.  Gen- 
eral Tuppcr  and  I  excused  ourselves  from  rowing.  Slept 
poorly.  Just  before  day  a  boat  hailed  us  ;  Colonel  Crary  on 
board.  Passed  Long  Reach  in  the  night,  rainy,  cloudy  all 
night,  but  the  moon  gave  light.  Passed  through  Long  Reach, 
and  by  that  means  lost  sight  of  it.  [We  had  48  souls  on 
board.     Daily  Journal.] 

Tuesday,  August  19.  Cloudy  and  showers.  Went  on  rap- 
idly. Several  fine  prospects  up  and  down  the  river.  Land 
less  mountainous.     Saw  Round  Bottom,   the  land  owned  by 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler.  411 

General  Washington ;  very  extensive  and  good.  It  is  al)out 
sixty  miles  from  Muskingum,  and  seventeen  miles  below 
Wheeling.  We  landed  about  eleven  o'clock  on  the  Federal 
side.  Fine  land,  the  hills  began  to  retire  from  the  river. 
Land  very  level  on  each  side  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach. 
IMany  beautiful  islands.  Began  to  rain  about  two,  and  con- 
tinued to  rain  very  hard  until  we  landed  at  Muskingum. 
Passed  the  Little  Muskingum,  a  pretty  large  creek,  and  Duck 
Creek ;  the  course  of  the  Ohio  nearly  north-west,  having 
turned  gradually  and  beautifully  from  south  for  four  or  five 
miles — fine  bottom  on  each  side.  Ao;ainst  Little  Muskingum 
and  Duck  Creek  lies  Kerr's  Island,  which  bows  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  river,  terminating  about  a  mile  before  we 
landed. 

The  first  appearance  was  the  Fort,  which  was  very  pretty. 
The  state  of  the  air  injured  our  prospect  very  much.  We 
landed  at  The  Point,  and  were  very  politely  received  by  the 
Honorable  Judges,  General  Putnam,  and  our  friends.  Gen- 
eral Putnam  invited  me  to  his  lodgings,  Vvdiich  is  a  marquee. 
Rained  extremely  hard  in  the  evening  and  at  night.  Mr. 
Breck  and  others  set  out  up  the  river  yesterday  by  land.  I 
drank  tea  with  General  Parsons. 

From  Wheeling  to  Grave  Creek,  12  miles  ;  from  Grave  to 
Fish  Creek,  12  ;  from  Fish  to  Fishing  Creek,  15  ;  from  Fish- 
ing to  Middle  Island,  28  ;  from  Middle  Island  to  Bull  Creek, 
12;  from  Bull  Creek  to  Muskingum,  10 — 89=:751  miles  from 
Ipswich. 

Wednesday,  Aug.  20.  This  day  an  entertainment  was  given 
to  the  Governor  and  officers  of  the  Garrison  by  the  Directors 
of  the  Company  at  the  Hall  in  Campus  Martins.  Went  a 
little  over  the  ground.  Major  Sargent  and  myself  went  over 
to  the  Garrison ;  paid  my  compliments  to  his  Excellency. 
Was    introduced    to    General    Harmar  *    and    lady.    Major 

*  General  Josiah  Harmar  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  served 
through  the  revolution  as  an  officer  in  the  Pennsylvania  troops  in  the 
Continental  line.  lie  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel  Comm  indant  of 
the  First  United  States  Infantry  in  1784,  Brevet  Brigadiei-General, 
1787,  and  resigned  in  1792.  He  was  the  first  General-in-Chief  of  the 
United  States  Army.     From  1793  to  1799  he  was  Adjutant-General  of 


412  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cfutler. 

Doughty,*  Captain  McCurdy  and  lady,  etc.  We  came  over 
in  the  barge  to  the  Hall  with  his  Excellency,  the  ladies,  and 
officers.  Barge  rowed  by  tAvelve  oars — aAvning — Sargent  in 
the  stern,  the  word  "  Congress  "  painted  on  the  blade  of  each/r 
oar;  well  disciplined  in  rowing  The  Fort  is  a.square,  very  "^ 
handsome.  Block-houses  at  the  corners,  curtains,  barracks, 
new  works  raised,  cannon,  field-pieces  in  the  square.  A  num- 
ber of  Indians  at  the  Fort,  who  have  come  in  to  the  treaty. 
We  landed  up  the  Muskingum,  opposite  to  the  Campus  Mar- 
tins. A  handsome  dinner,  with  punch  and  wine.  The  Gov- 
ernor and  ladies  from  the  Garrison,  very  sociable.  Miss 
Rowena  Tupper  and  the  two  Mrs.  Goodale  dined,  and  fifty- 
five  gentlemen.  Returned  in  the  barge  to  the  Point.  A  little 
rain. 

Thursday,  Aug.  21.  Foggy  night  and  morning.  After 
dinner  we  took  a  long  walk  over  the  city  lots,  through  the 
corn-field,  Avhich  astonished  me  on  account  of  its  mao-nitude. 
I  should  be  as  soon  lost  in  it  as  in  a  cedar  swamp  in  a  cloudy 
day.  We  were  extremely  fatigued  with  traveling  through  it. 
Went  on  to  the  high  mound,  a  white  oak  upon  the  top,  which 
General  Putnam  judged  to  be  100  feet  high.  Went  on  most 
of  the  works,  and  particularly^  on  the  Via  Sacra.  Shall  de- 
scribe these  works  more  fulh^  in  another  place.  Felt  myself 
much  injured  yesterday  and  to-day  by  representations  made 
by  the  Rhode  Island  faction  respecting  the  Scioto  Company's 
purchase. 

Friday,  Aug.  22.  Foggy  again  night  and  morning.  After 
breakfast  Captain  Stone  and  I  Avent  over  the  river  to  the  Vir- 
ginia side,  where  there  are  about  thirteen  families.  Called 
on  Mr.  Williams,!  who  is  the  principal  man.     He   has  here  a 

Pennsylvania.  lie  died  in  Philadelphia,  1813.  For  his  military  rec- 
ord and  that  of  Captain  McCurdy,  see  "  IJeturn  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Troops  in  tlie  Service  of  the  United  States.  7th  .August,  1787,"  published 
in  Philadelphia,  1887,  with  notes  by  Colonel  Jcjm  P.  Nicholson. 

*  Major  John  Doughty,  commander  of  the  artillery;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  in  1798.  Fort  Ilarmar  was  erected  by  the  troops  under  his 
command  in  1785. — Note  to  Colonel  Mai/'s  Journeys  to  the  Ohio  Country. 

-j- Isaac  Williams  was  a  native  of  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  born  in  1737.  When  but  eighteen  years  of  age  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  colonial  government  as  scout  to  watch  the  movements  of 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  413 

fine  farm  of  400  acres  ;  the  other  people  are  his  tenants.  He 
came  here  the  25th  of  March,  1787  ;  has  large  quantities  of 
flax,  corn,  and  good  gardens.  He  gave  me  a  very  good 
cat-fish,  on  Avhich  Ave  dined.  Afternoon  about  the  Point. 
Fair,  fine  evening.  A  number  of  Indians  over,  and  dined 
with  us. 

Saturday,  Aug.  23.  Visited  tAvo  or  three  persons  that 
were  sick.  A  fine,  fair  morning.  Out  on  the  bank  of  the 
Ohio.  Half  Indian  King,  Zane's  son,  and  other  Indians  here. 
Preparing  for  to-morroAv  in  the  Avoods.  I  found  Avhen  I  came 
in  at  night  a  number  of  Indians  at  the  Point,  the  squaws 
mostly  drunk,  Indians  sober.  There  Avas  a  small  shower  in 
the  afternoon,  and  in  the  night  a  most  severe  tempest  of 
thunder,  lightning,  and  rain  ;  almost  droAvned. 

Sunday,  Aug.  24.  Cloudy  this  morning,  and  very  muddy. 
Attended  public  Avorship  in  the  Hall  in  Campus  Martins ;  the 
Hall  very  full ;  had  but  one  exercise.  People  came  from  the 
Virginia  shore  and  from  the  Garrison.  Governor  sick.  Be- 
gan Avith  short  prayer,  read  scripture,  etc.,  sang  three  times. 
]\Iean  to  establish  this  order  in  future.  Dined  Avith  Generals 
Parsons  and  Varnum.  We  took  a  Avalk  out  just  at  sunset, 
and  went  as  far  as  the  great  tree.*     Measured  the  diameter — 


the  Indi;ins.   In  thiscapncity  hewaswith  Braddock  in  hisbrief  campaign. 
Alter  the  treaty  made  with  the  Indians  by  Colonel  Boquet,  in  1705,  Mr. 
Williams  brought  his  parents  over  the  mountains  and  settled  on  Euflfalo 
Creek,  and  engaged   in   hunting  and   trapping.     In    1775   he   married 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Martin,  a  young  widow,  whose  husband  had  been  killed 
by  the  Indians.     During   the  war  along  the  border  (1777  to  17So)  Mr. 
Williams  lived  near  Ked  Stone  fort  on  the  Monongahela  Eiver,  return- 
ing  to   the   valley  of  the   Ohio,  near  Wheeling,   in    1 7S4.      When    Fort 
Harmar  was  established  he  moved  to  a  point  in  Virginia  diiectly  op- 
po.site  the   mouth  of  the   Muskingum,  where   Mrs.  Williams'   brother 
had  made  for  her  an  entry  of  four  hundred  acres  of  land.     He  estab- 
lished friendly  relations  with  the  Ohio  Company  people  on  tlieir  arrival 
and  his  knowledge  of  frontier  life  and  acquaintance  with  the  Indians 
was  of  much  value  to  them.     He  died  in   18:20. — Sec  HiUlrctlis  Lives  of 
the  Early  Sdttcrs  of  Ohio. 

*The  reference  is  to  the  trees  mentioned  in  the  pamphlet  prepared 
by  Dr.  Cutler  in  1787  for  the  Ohio  Company,  and  printed  in  full  in  the 
Appendix  to  this  work.  "General  Parsons  measured  a  black-walnut 
tree,  near  the  Muskin<;um,  whose  circumference  at  five  feet  from  the 


414  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

thirteen  feet  in  diaineter  in  the  two  opposite  directions,  i.  e., 
at  right  angles.  The  tree  is  broken  down  ;  one  side  is  about 
eighteen  feet  high,  the  opposite  about  two  feet.  The  inside 
of  the  tree  is  not  only  hollow,  but  has  been  burnt  so  that 
there  is  but  a  thin  shell.  The  growth  of  the  tree  is  sloping ; 
if  cut  off  about  two  feet  above  the  ground  would  contain  sixty-four 
men,  allowing  eighteen  inclxes  to  a  man.  Six  horsemen  could 
ride  in  abreast,  and  parade  in  the  tree  at  the  same  time.  We 
measured  the  circumference  as  near  the  ground  as  possible,  so 
as  to  take  in  all  the  bulges,  and  make  it  forty-six  and  a  half 
feet.  About  two  feet  above  the  ground  we  measured  the  cir- 
cumference again,  and  found  it  to  be  forty-one  and  a  half  feet. 
This  seems  to  have  been  the  proper  place  to  have  measured  it 
to  give  the  proper  circumference,  and  gives  the  diameter  four- 
teen feet.  At  the  height  of  sixteen  feet,  the  tree  was  only 
six  feet  in  diameter ;  at  eighteen  feet,  it  branched  into  three 
large  branches,  which  now  lie  on  the  ground.  A  shower  this 
eveninu",  with  thunder. 

Monday,  Aug.  25.  This  morning  an  appearance  of  rain, 
but  cleared  away,  so  that  our  surveyors  went  up  the  Mus- 
kingum to  complete  the  surveys  of  the  eight-acre  lots,  under 
the  protection  of  a  sergeant's  guard  from  the  Garrison.  After 
dinner.  General  Parsons,  Putnam,  and  myself,  went  out  to 
survey  Captain  Heart's  and  my  city  lots,  on  the  Ohio.  Before 
we  had  completed  them,  a  most  violent  thunder-shower  came 
up,  and  we  were  obliged  to  return.  Got  seriously  wet — al- 
most drowned  in  our  tent.  The  wind  very  high ;  several  trees 
broke  off  and  bloAvn  down  near  us.  About  three  o'clock  in  the 
night  I  was  called  up  to  see  a  child  of  islajor  Cushing's,  sup- 
posed to  be  djnng.  Just  before  I  got  into  the  house  it  ex- 
pired. The  first  person  that  died  in  the  city  of  Marietta. 
This  child  was  vei"y  low  when  Major  Gushing  left  iNew  Eng- 
land. Its  disorder  appeared  to  be  a  proper  atropha  infcoiiilis, 
extremely  emaciated ;  expected  it  would  have  expired  in  the 
boat  while  we  were  coming  down.  Dr.  Scott,  of  the  Garrison, 
attended  after  it   arrived  here.     He   spoke   encouraging ;  ap- 

ground  was  twenty-two  feet.  A  sycamore  near  the  same  place  meas- 
ured forty-four  feet  in  circumference  at  some  distance  from  the 
ground." 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasse7i  Cutler.  415 

pears  to  be  ingenious.  I  attended  with  him  yesterday,  but 
suspected  it  was  too  late  for  any  kind  of  medicine  to  produce 
any  valuable  effect.  Its  name  was  Nabby ;  thirteen  months 
old. 

Tuesday,  Aug.  26.  Fine  morning,  fair  and  pleasant ;  wind 
north-west.  The  first  time  the  Avind  has  blown  from  any 
quarter  except  south-Avest  since  my  arrival.  Went  over  to 
the  Virginia  shore.  Met  with  Dr.  Scott,  and  visited  his  pa- 
tients Avith  him.  Two  large  Kentucky  boats  here,  Avith  a 
number  of  families  bound  to  Judge  Symmes'  settlement. 
Went  out,  afternoon,  on  the  city  lots  and  parsonage  land; 
found  it  much  better  than  I  expected.  Went  on  to  the  bury- 
ing ground  ;  fixed  on  the  place  *  to  bury  Major  Cushing's  child. 

Wednesday,  Aug.  27.  Foggy  morning ;  fine  day,  but 
rather  Avarm.  Judge  Symmes  and  his  company  arrived  last 
night.  He,  Avith  his  daughter,  made  us  a  visit  to-day.  A 
very  Avell  accomplished  young  lady.  At  2  o'clock  attended 
the  funeral  of  Major  Cushing's  child.  A  considerable  num- 
ber of  people  collected.  The  cofiin,  cherry-tree.  Proposed 
that  it  should  not  be  colored  ;  an  example  for  the  future.  We 
agreed  to  Avalk  in  order.     Very  decent  funeral. 

After  the  child  Avas  buried,  Avent  over  a  number  of  the  hills 
back  ;  fine  prospect,  most  delightful  for  country-seats.  Land 
excellent  for  wheat.     Much  fatigued.     Fine  day. 

Thursday,  Aug.  28.  Morning  foggy ;  fine  day.  Edmund 
Moulton  bit  by  a  copperhead  this  morning,  just  before  day,  in 
the  room  Avhere  he  slept.  Snake  killed.  Another  small  one 
found  near  the  house.  Made  him  bite  a  number  of  times. 
Took  off  his  head  and  examined  his  teeth.  Took  out  seven 
teeth  from  the  bladder  on  one  side  his  jaAv.  Found  a  circular 
bone,  in  which  the  teeth  Avere  inserted  ;  this  bono  is  connected 
Avith  the  jaAV  by  a  strong  ligament. 

Afternoon,  visited  by  Madame  Zanes,  a  squaAv,  descended 
from  a  royal  family,  daughter  of  the  half-king  of  the  Wyan- 
dots.  Her  family  and  her  brother,  a  son  of  the  half-king, 
Avere  Avith  her,  old  Guycr-suter,  a  Seneca  chief,  and  several 

'^'The  site  selected  by  Doctor  Cutler  as  a  buri.il  place  for  the  child 
of  Major  Gushing  was  on  the  ridge,  south  of  the  present  cemetery, 
where  the  house  of  Beman  Gates  now  stands.     General  Varnum  was 


416  Life  of  Rev.  llanasseJi  Cutler. 

others.  Madame  Zanes  and  her  family  were  very  richly 
dressed.  It  was  said  she  had  on  three  hundred  brooches,  and 
that  her  whole  dress  cost  five  hundred  dollars.  Her  family  in 
the  same  style,  very  neat.  We  have  had  Indians  to  dine  with 
us  almost  every  day  since  I  have  been  on  the  Point;  princi- 
pally Delawares,  Wyandots,  one  or  two  Shawanese,  Mingo, 
Seneca,  or  Six  Nations.  No  other  nations  come  in.  The 
Chippewas  and  Ottawas  appear  to  be  rather  inclined  for  war, 
but  have  come  into  the  Council  at  Sandusky,  and  acceded  to 
a  general  peace. 

Friday,  Aug.  29.  This  morning  General  Putnam  and  I 
went  up  the  Muskingum.  .  Traveled  through  Virgin's  Bottom 
and  Wiseman's  Bottom.*  Saw  four  deer  at  different  times,  one 
of  them  a  large  buck.  Killed  a  large  rattlesnake.  Found 
our  boat,  and  crossed  the  river.  Went  into  the  water ;  found 
a  great  number  of  clam  cohog  shells,  some  very  large.  Grapes 
plenty  on  the  small  island.  A  shower  came  on,  and  gave  us 
a  severe  dousing.  Went  on  shore  to  the  surveyors.  Here  is 
an  excellent  tract  of  land,  more  than  one  thousand  acres  in  a 


also  buried  there.  His  grave  was  not  marked,  but  was  discovered 
when  the  excavations  were  making  for  the  foundations  for  Mr.  Gates' 
house,  and  the  remains  were  fully  identified  by  the  coat  buttons. 

During  the  Indian  war,  1790  to  1794,  when  it  was  unsafe  to  go  far 
from  the  fort,  burials  were  made  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  now  duji 
away,  on  Third  street,  near  Wooster.  General  Benjamin  Tupper,  who 
died  in  1792,  was  buried  between  Third  and  Fourth  streets,  opposite 
the  great  elevated  square.  Major  Anselm  Tupper  and  an  infant  child 
of  Colonel  Ichabod  Xye  were  also  buried  there. 

Mound  Cemetery  was  opened  in  the  year  1800.  The  first  person 
buried  in  it  was  Robert  Taylor,  who  died  oOih  September,  1801. 

Oak  Giove  Cemeteiy  was  purchased  by  the  city  from  lion.  Arius 
Nye  in  18G1.  Tiie  remains  of  twenty-six  persons  were  removed  from 
the  grounds  of  Mr.  Gates  and  re-interred  in  Oak  Grove  in  1871,  and  a 
neat  monument  was  erected  to  them. 

*  Colonel  Joseph  Barker  was  the  first  settler  in  Wiseman's  Bottom. 
Captain  Jonathan  Devol  soon  joined  him.  Botli  of  them  were  skilled 
mechanics  and  builders.  Ship  building  was  Die  earliest  important 
industry  established  at  Marietta.  Colonel  Barker  built  a  number  of 
ships  on  his  f  n  in  on  tiie  bank  of  the  ^^luskingum,  as  did  Captain  Devol. 
Captain  Devol  also  constructed  a  floating  mill,  after  patterns  furnished 
by  Griffin  Greene,  and  anchored  it  in  the  Muskingum,  opposite  his 
home.     See  JJisiorj/  Washinglon  County. 


Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler.  417 

body  of  bottom.  Lodged  in  the  woods  with  the  surveyors. 
We  were  extremely  Avet,  but  made  a  large  fire  and  Avere  com- 
fortable. A  party  of  soldiers  Avere  with  us,  who  kept  a  guard 
all  night. 

Saturday^  August  30.  Went  over  the  river  this  morning, 
and  viewed  the  bottom  on  the  Avest  side  ;  very  fine.  SaAv  some 
of  my  lots.  Grapes  plenty.  Saw  many  fine  fish ;  a  most 
beautiful  river.  Came  doAvn  in  the  boat.  Much  fatigued. 
Wrote  home  to  Mrs.  Cutler  to  set  out  for  Mr.  Chickering's 
Wednesday,  October  8th. 

Sunday,  Aug.  31.  Cloudy  and  misty.  Preached.  Gov- 
ernor present.  Dined  Avith  Colonel  Battelle.*  Drank  tea 
with  Sargent. 

Monday,  September  1.  Foggy  morning.  Busy  at  the  tent. 
The  Governor  and  General  Ilarmar  over  in  the  afternoon. 
Invited  to  dine  Avith  the  Governor  next  day. 

Tuesday,  Sept.  2.  Court  of  Common  Pleas  opened  this 
morning  at  Campus  Martins  in  the  Hall.  Procession 'from  the 
Point.  Opened  Avith  prayer.  The  Governor  and  Supreme 
Judges  present.  The  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
and  myself  dined  Avith  the  Governor  at  Fort  Harmar.  Genteel 
dinner;  fine  fruit.  Mrs.  Harmar  a  fine  Avoman.  Beautiful 
gardens.     Returned  before  night. 

Wednesday,  Sept.  3.  This  morning.  General  Putnam  and 
myself  Avent  over  to  the  Garrison.  Dr.  Scott  took  a  tour  Avith 
us  up  to  the  Indian  Camp.  Not  a  great  number,  many  being 
gone  out  hunting ;  very  friendly.  We  Avent  from  thence  up 
the  high  hill  north-west  of  the  Fort  and  Avest  of  the  city.  Fine 
prospect.  Some  excellent  land  ;  fine  rock  for  building;  and  it 
is  proposed  that  the  University  should  be  on  this  hill.  Found 
a  number  of  Indian  graves  on  the  highest  summit,  consisting 
of  heaps  of  stone.     Returned  by  way  of  the  bottom,  back  of 


*  Colonel  Battelle,  only  son  of  Ebenezer  Battelle,  of  Dedham,  Mass., 
graduated  at  Ilarvard  College,  1775,  settled  in  Boston,  and  there  mar- 
ried Miss  Anna  Durrant.  Ajuil  6, 1788,  set  out  on  the  journey  to  Ohio, 
an-ivinj:  at  Adelphia  (Marietta)  after  six  weeks'  toilsome  journeying:. 
In  1789,  removed  to  Belpre;  from  there  to  Newport,  in  1802,  where  he 
died  in  1815. — History  of  Washington  Co.,  Ohio. 

27 


418  LifC'  of  Rev.  3Imiasseh  Cutler. 

the  Fort ;  very  fine.  Viewed  the  gardens,  and  called  on  Cap- 
tain McCurdy.     Returned  to  dine.     Busy  afternoon. 

Thursday,  Sept.  4.  Went  out  this  morning  to  view  the  land 
up  the  Ohio — the  school  lots,  etc.  Killed  pigeons ;  much  fa- 
tigued. About  fourteen  in  company.  Returned  in  the  after- 
noon, and  drank  tea  at  Colonel  Battelle's.  A  tremendous 
thunderstorm  in  the  latter  part  of  the  night  ;  lightning  inces- 
sant ;  rained  very  hard. 

Friday,  Sept.  5.  Very  warm  this  morning';  cloudy,  with 
showers.  Went  over  a  number  of  the  city  lots.  Many  of  the 
natives  to  dine. 

Saturday,  Sept.  6.  Went  up  early  this  morning  to  Campus 
Martins.  The  Directors  ordered  yesterday  that  this  day  the 
surveyors  be  directed  to  measure  the  Ancient  Works  ;  that  the 
Governor  be  requested  to  attend  ;  that  a  number  of  the  largest 
and  oldest  trees  be  cut  down,  in  order  to  count  the  rings,  etc. 
After  dinner,  the  Governor  came  over,  with  Mons.  Vigo,  from 
St.  Vincent's ;  Captain  Prather  and  others  attended.  (See 
minutes.*)  Examined  the  elevated  squares,  Sacra  Via,  meas- 
ured the  great  mound,  ditch,  etc.;  observed  the  old  trees  and 


*  These  minutes,  in  the  handwriting  of  Dr.  Cutler,  are  among  the 
Putnam  papers  in  the  library  of  the  College  at  Marietta.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  copy : 

"A  Poplar  or  Tulip  tree  cut  down  on  the  parapet  N.  of  the  S.icra  Via 
near  the  highest  part  of  the  ridge.  Mean  Diameter  within  the  bark,  5  it. 
11.2  inches j  tree  hollow;  the  greatest  width  of  the  sound  part  of  the 
tree,  in  which  the  concentric  circles  could  be  counted,  was  8.8  inches; 
nearly  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  sound  part  was  only  5.6  inches. 
The  calculation  of  the  number  of  the  circles  was  made  by  counting 
the  circles  contained  in  these  two  parts.  In  8.8  were  109  circles;  in 
5  6  were  70.  'I'he  same  number  of  circles  was  presumed  to  have  been 
in  the  parts  decayed  as  in  the  sound  wiihin  the  same  space,  with- 
out any  regard  to  circles  being  nearer  together  than  at  the  circum- 
ference. 

"Computing  by  the  No.  contained  in  8.8,  the  circles  441;  5.6,  the 
circles  445. 

"  In  the  N.W.  angle  of  the  great  square,  aie  evident  traces  of  an  old 
stump  of  tree,  decayed  to  the  .surface  of  the  ground,  which  measures 

8  feet  Diameter.  The  body  of  the  tree  is  nearly  moldered  away,  and 
appears  to  have  been  of  a  large  size.  On  the  eastern  end  of  the  para- 
pet, N.  of  Sacra  via  is  a  stump  much  decayed,  which  measures  29  feet 

9  inches  circumference;  the  body  nearly  perished.     On  the  same  para- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  419 

stumps,  as  well  as  those  cut  down.     Engaged  a  passage  with 
Mons.  Vigo'"^  up  the  Ohio. 

Su7iday,  Sept.  7.  Pleasant  day,  and  full  meeting.  Many 
of  the  people  on  the  Virginia  shore  were  over,  and  most  of  the 
gentlemen  from  the  Garrison,  Dined  with  Captain  McCurdy 
and  Dr.  Scott,  on  venison  steak  and  squirrel  pie ;  very 
good    dinner.       Mrs.    McCurdy    very     agreeable.       Colonel 


pet  is  another  stump,  5  or  6  feet  high;  the  tree  Sycamore  or  Button- 
wood;  measured  21  feet  11  inches;  most  of  the  body  decayed.  A 
thrifty  Beech  on  the  same  ridge,  the  roots  of  which  have  run  over  an 
old  stump  of  a  large  tree  which  was  decayed  on  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  which  measured  18  inches  within  the  bark;   had  136  circles. 

"An  Elm,  about  6!)  f.  et  N.  of  the  same  ridge,  thrifty  and  sound,  3 
feet  2  inches  in  Diam  ;  33G  well-defined  circles. 

"A  Po])lar,  about  10  feet  from  the  Elm,  thrifty  and  sound,  2  feet  8 
inches  in  Diani.;  202  circles. 

"That  there  might  be  no  error  in  counting  tfte  circles,  a  magnifying 
glass  was  used,  through  which  they  were  well  defined.  In  all  the  trees 
that  were  examined,  it  was  found  that  the  circles  were  much  more 
close  near  the  heart  than  toward  the  circumference. 

"  On  the  elevated  square,  called  Quadranaou,  a  thrifty  white  oak  was 
cut  down;  4  feet  Diameter.  The  heart  was  decayed,  but  219  circles, 
large  and  well  defined,  were  counted  Ijy  actual  computation;  there 
must  have  been  70  more;  in  the  whole,  289  circles.  On  the  same  ele- 
vation are  the  traces  of  three  ancient  stumps,  from  6  to  8  feet  diameter;- 
the  bodies  so  far  consumed  as  not  to  be  traced." 

This  is  indorsed,  in  the  handwriting  of  (leneral  Rufus  Putnam,  "  Min- 
utes taken  in  the  presence  of  Governor  St.  Clair,  the  Judges,  etc." 

*  Francis  Vigo  was  born  in  Sardinia,  in  1747.  He  eidisted,  when  a 
boy,  as  a  private  soldier  in  a  Sf)anish  regiment,  and  came  with  it  to 
New  Orleans.  He  was  here  discharged,  and  commenced  business  as 
an  Indian  trader,  first  on  the  Arkansas  River,  and  afterward  in  St. 
Louis.  When  George  Eogers  Clarke  captured  Kaskaskia,  Colonel 
Vigo  offered  his  services  to  him,  and,  with  a  single  attendant,  went  to 
Vincennes  and  obtained  the  information  which  enabled  General  Clarke 
to  capture  that  post  in  February,  1779.  (Jolonel  Vigo  accompanied 
Clarke,  and  settled  in  Vincennes  after  its  capture.  He  advanced  large 
sums  of  money  to  clothe  and  feed  General  Clarke's  destitute  army. 
Although  his  account  was  approved  by  the  Commissioners  of  Revolu- 
tionary Claims  for  Virginia,  no  part  of  it  was  ever  repaid  to  him,  and 
he  died  in  poverty.  In  1790,  he  was  made  Commandant  of  the  Vin- 
cennes Militia,  and  in  ISIO  was  one  of  (ieneral  Harrison's  confidential 
messengers  to  the  Indians.  He  died  at  Vincennes,  in  1836. — See  Laws 
Vincennes;  Illustrated  Ilistorj/ Indiana, 


420  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler. 

Sproat  *  dined  with  us.  The  Colonel  and  I  returned  in  the 
evening.     Very  severe  shower  in  the  night. 

3Ionday,  Sept.  8.  Expected  to  go  up  the  river  this  morning, 
but  Mons.Vigo  could  not  get  ready.  Completed  maps,  etc.  Sev- 
eral severe  showers.    Slept  to-night  in  a  wet  bed,  and  wet  sheets. 

Tuesday/,  Sept.  9.  Fine  morning  and  day.  Took  my  leave 
of  the  settlement  at  9  o'clock.  Mons.  A^igo  called  for  me  at 
the  Point.  Fine,  large  boat,  with  keel  and  rudder,  and  ten 
oars,  cabin  and  awning;  good  accommodations.  Two  men 
sick.  Soon  after  we  left  the  Point,  saw  the  soldiers  and  a 
number  of  Indians,  expected  from  Fort  Pitt,  coming  down  on 
the  other  side  of  Kerr's  Island.  We  crossed  the  river  and 
met  them.  Captain  Zeigler  commanded  the  Company  of  new 
levies  of  fifty-five  men.  There  were  about  forty  Indians,  in 
canoes,  lashed  together.  The  soldiers  Avere  paraded  in  a  very 
large  boat — stood  up  on  a  platform  and  were  properly  paraded  ; 
with  the  American  Flag  in  the  stern.  Just  as  we  got  up  with 
them,  they  began  to  fire  by  platoons.  After  they  had  fired, 
the  Indians  fired  from  their  canoes,  singly,  or  rather,  con- 
fusedly. The  Indians  had  two  small  flags  of  thirteen  stripes. 
They  were  answered  from  the  Garrison  by  train,  who  fired  three 
field-pieces ;  flag  hoisted. f     As  M.  Vigo  had  business  to  do 


*  Ebenezer  Sproat  was  born  in  Middleborough,  Mass.,  in  1752.  lie 
entered  the  service  in  1775,  as  Captain  of  a  company  in  the  tenth  regi- 
ment of  the  Massachusetts  line,  and  served  through  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  attaining  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel.  He  came  to 
Marietta  with  the  first  party,  who  arrived  April  7,  1788,  and  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Ohio  Company  as  a  surveyor,  lie  was  the  first  Sheriff 
of  Washington  County,  and  held  the  office  fourteen  years,  and  was  the 
first  Colonel  of  Militia  commissioned  in  the  North-west  Territory.  He 
died,  1805. — See  Hili/rcth's  lAvcs  of  t4\e  Earh/  SetlUrs  of  Ohio. 

■j- General  liichard  Butler,  commissioner  on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  Captain  James  O'Hara,  the  contractor,  with  Corn  Planter  and 
about  fifty  Senecas,  arrive.  They  were  escorted  from  Pitt  by  Captain 
Zeigler's  company  of  recruits.  They  were  received  with  a  salute  of 
three  rounds  of  cannon  and  the  music.  Zeigler  is  a  German;  had 
been  in  Saxon  service  previous  to  our  late  war  with  England.  He 
takes  pride  in  having  the  handsomest  company  in  the  regiment; 
and,  to  do  him  justice,  his  company  has  always  been  considered  the 
first  in  point  of  discipline  and  appearance. — Mdilary  Journal  of  Major 
Ebenezer  Denny,  September  9,  1788. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  421 

with  Mr.  O'Hara,  we  landed  on  Kerr's  Island,  and  INI.  Vigo, 
Captain  Pratber,  and  I  Avent  with  him,  back  to  the  Garrison. 
I  waited  on  the  Governor.  Dined  with  Captain  McCurdy. 
He  presented  me  with  a  pair  of  moccasins.  The  Indian  Chief, 
the  Cornplanter.*  was  the  principal  character  among  them. 
They  were  of  the  Six  Nations.  This  information  was  from 
Mr.  Joseph  Nicholson,  the  Interpreter.  He  applied  to  me 
for  land  in  our  Purchase. 

At  three  o'clock  we  left  the  Garrison  and  returned  to  our 
boat.  Went  up  the  south  side  of  Kerr's  Island,  passed  the 
mouth  of  the  Little  Muskingum,  and  encamped  for  the  night. 
Made  fire  on  the  shore,  had  a  good  dish  of  tea,  and  a  French 
fricassee.  The  people  slept  on  shore.  Mons.  Francis  Vigo, 
Mons.  Peter  Hubert,  Mons.  Peter  Menard,  and  Mr.  Basil 
Pratber,  brother  to  the  Mr.  Pratber  where  I  lodged  at  Buffalo, 
slept  on  the  quarter-deck  very  well.  Fair  day  and  evening. 
Four  miles  from  Marietta. 


*Gyantwachin,  tlie  Cofuplanter,  a  chief  of  the  Seneca  Nation,  born 
at  Conewaugus,  on  the  Genesee  River;  a  half-breed,  the  son  of  John 
O'Bail,  a  trader  from  Albany.  At  Braddock's  defeat,  in  1775,  he 
fought  on  the  side  of  the  French  ;  and  during  our  Revolution,  he  was 
a  war  chief  of  h'gh  rani<,  and  fought  with  the  Six  Nations  a>;ainst  us. 
After  the  war,  he  became  the  warm  friend  of  Washington  and  of  the 
Unite<l  States,  and  threw  all  his  influence  at  the  treaties  of  Fort  Stan- 
vvix  and  Fort  Harmar  in  favor  of  peace.  He  retired  from  public  life, 
and  devoted  his  labors  to  his  own  people.  His  son,  Major  Henry 
O'Bail,  fouglit  in  the  United  States  army  in  the  war  of  J812.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Agents  of  the  Ohio  Company  at  Marietta,  February  9, 
1789,  it  was  resolved  to  grant  to  Gyantvvachia  and  his  heirs  forever  one 
mile  square  of  the  Donation  Lands,  but  Cornplanter  seems  to  have 
valued  this  only  as  an  expression  of  good  will  toward  himself  He 
lived  on  the  west  hank  of  the  Alleghany  River,  on  a  reservation  made 
to  him  by  tiie  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  died  at  Cornplanter's  'J'own, 
Febiuai'v  18,  1S36.  In  his  prime,  he  was  six  feet  one  inch  in  height, 
remarkably  sedate,  a  "  temperance  man,"  exerting  himself  to  suppress 
intemperance,  and  favoring  the  efforts  of  missionaries  among  his 
people.  He  supposed  himself  to  be  about  103  years  old.  The  State  of 
Pennsylvania  has  erected  a  monument  to  Cornplanter,  with  this  in- 
scription :  "Cliief  of  tlie  Seneca  tribe,  and  principal  Chief  of  the  Six 
Nations,  from  the  period  of  the  Revolutionary  War  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  Distinguished  for  talent,  courage,  eloquence,  sobriety,  and  love 
for  his  tribe  and  race,  to  whose  welfare  he  devoted  his  time,  his  ener- 
gies, and  his  means,  during  a  long  and  eventful  life." 


422  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Wednesday,  Sept.  10.  As  soon  as  daylight  appeared  we 
were  in  motion.  About  eight  we  halted  a  few  minutes  for 
breakfast ;  ate  cold  pork,  cabbage,  and  pickles.  Mr.  Prather 
and  I  took  several  walks  on  shore.  Killed  a  raccoon,  caught 
a  great  number  of  squirrels  that  were  swimming  across  the 
river ;  saw  some  pigeons,  but  killed  none.  We  halted  at  the 
upper  end  of  the  island,  below  Middle  Island,  to  dine.  Cooked 
our  dinner — pork,  squirrels,  and  a  fine  dish  of  strong  coffee. 
We  found  plenty  of  grapes,  small,  but  good,  the  vines  very 
low  ;  grew  among  the  pebbles.  Went  on  to  the  island  and 
collected  hops,  honey-locust  pods,  etc.  Saw  garget,  sow- 
thistle,  etc.  Examined  several  plants.  Went  on  past  Mid- 
dle Island  and  encamped  on  the  Virginia  shore.  Yery  foggy. 
Spoke  a  boat  in  the  night  from  Wheeling  to  Muskingum.  We 
saw  fresh  Indian  sio-ns  on  the  island. 

Thursday,  Sept.  11.  Foggy  morning.  Went  on  shore  after 
pigeons,  alone,  met  a  bear  and  her  cub  in  the  path,  fired  at 
her  with  a  small  charge  of  pigeon-shot ;  they  made  off,  the 
dog  pursued  them,  and  before  I  could  get  properly  charged 
were  gone.  Killed  one  pigeon,  and  came  on  board  at  the  bot- 
tom of  Long  Reach.  After  dinner,  Mr.  Prather  and  the  ne- 
gro, Eneas,  went  on  shore  with  their  guns.  Just  before  en- 
camping for  the  night  found  an  Indian  camp  that  had  been 
left  about  one  or  two  days — deer  and  turkey  bones  plenty. 
Eneas,  who  is  an  Indian  negro,  and  well  acquainted,  says  there 
were  ten,  and  that  they  were  gone  up  the  river.  This  gave  us 
an  alarm,  as  we  had  not  got  so  far  up  the  Reach  as  to  appre- 
hend danger,  if  any.  We  were  consulting  about  anchoring 
off  in  the  river,  when  we  saw  a  canoe  coming  down  the  river. 
We  hailed  the  canoe.  It  was  Williams  and  his  negro,  from 
Grave  Creek,  who  told  us  he  saw,  about  two  miles  above,  five 
Indians  on  the  shore,  Avho  were  running  very  fast  toward  Fish- 
ing Creek,  whei-e  he  supposed  they  had  a  canoe,  and  intended 
to  pursue  him.  We  had  several  accounts  at  ]Muskingum  of 
Indians  seen  at  this  place.  Williams  was  extremely  fright- 
ened, and  trembled  to  such  a  degree  as  scarcely  to  be  able 
to  tell  his  story.  This  determined  us  to  anchor  off  in  the 
river  after  we  had  cooked  our  supper.  Williams  did  not  dare 
to  go  on,  although  we  assured  him  there  could  be  no  danger, 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  423 

but  came  on  board  us,  and  tarried  the  night.  We  kept  watch, 
but  saw  nothing.  This  place  we  found  in  the  morning  to  be 
above  the  middle  of  Long  Reach.  Fine  day,  foggy  night ; 
some  rain  in  the  night. 

Friday,  Sept.  12.  As  soon  as  it  was  day-break,  weighed 
anchor,  and  went  up  on  the  Indian  side.  Williams  saw  the  In- 
dians on  the  Virginia  shore.  As  we  were  passing  the  upper 
island  in  Lone;  Reach  we  saw,  in  the  narrows  about  two 
miles  above  us,  a  canoe  coming  down.  As  soon  as  she  dis- 
covered us,  she  seemed  to  put  away  for  a  point  on  the  oppo- 
site shore,  and  was  soon  out  of  sight.  It  seemed  to  be  full 
of  men,  who  appeared  like  Indians.  In  a  few  minutes  we  saw 
the  canoe  paddling  up  very  close  to  the  shore,  and  shot  above 
the  point  we  were  approaching  and  must  pass.  She  had  not 
been  gone  long  before  she  fell  down  on  the  opposite  shore, 
so  far  as  just  to  see  us,  and  then  put  up  again  as  fast  as  pos- 
sible. These  movements  were  to  us  demonstration  of  their 
being  Indians.  Williams  told  us  there  were  eighteen  seen 
there  a  few  days  before,  and  part  were  stationed  each  side  the 
river.  We  sent  out  Eneas  to  reconnoiter,  and  went  to  pre- 
paring ourselves  for  action.  He  soon  returned  and  told  us 
they  were  crossing  to  the  side  where  we  were,  and  he  was 
positive  they  were  Indians.  We  presumed  their  intention 
was  to  attack  us,  and  to  lie  in  ambush  close  to  the  river,  as 
they  knew  we  must  pass  close  to  the  bushes  on  account  of 
the  current.  It  was  determined  to  fight  them.  M.  Vigo  was 
all  on  fire  to  fight.  We  had  fifteen  men,  but  only  fourteen  guns. 
It  was  agreed  as  soon  as  we  fired,  to  land  and  push  upon 
them.  I  prevailed  at  length  to  throw  out  a  flank  guard  to 
keep  along  just  ahead  of  the  boat,  who  would  discover  their 
ambush,  and  perhaps  be  able  to  give  us  notice  before  they 
fired  upon  us,  which  might  save  some  of  our  men.  Mr.  Pra- 
ther  and  the  negro  were  desired  to  iro  ;  M.  Vie'o  insisted  on 
going  with  them.  They  went  on  shore,  and  were  prepared  to 
return  the  fire  instantly,  which  we  now  expected  every  mo- 
ment, as  willows  were  very  thick,  and  we  at  the  place  where 
they  probably  landed.  As  we  passed  along  we  saw  frequently 
fresh  moccasin  tracks,  which  appeared  to  have  been  ust  made 
After  rowing  about  one  hour,  every  man  with  his  accouter- 


424  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

ments  on,  and  his  gun  at  hand,  expecting  a  shot  at  every 
moment,  we  came  up  with  Fishing  Creek,  which  was  on  the 
opposite  side ;  the  river  pretty  wide  here.  M.  Vigo  and  the 
others  returned  and  told  us  the  canoe  had  Landed  up  Fishing 
Creek,  and  they  saw  men  on  the  shore  go  up  to  an  ohl  planta- 
tion, and  one  Indian  remained  in  the  canoe.  Upon  looking 
attentively,  we  could  see  the  Indian  from  the  boat,  and  pres- 
ently saw.  two  or  three  men  on  shore.  M.  Vigo  declared 
he  would  go  over  and  fight  them.  I  did  not  like  it  very  well, 
but  he  was  determined.  Before  we  had  crossed  the  river  the 
men  appeared  in  full  view.  I  soon  knew  them  to  be  hunters 
that  had  been  at  the  Muskingum.  We  hailed  them,  and  found 
them  to  be  the  same  people.  AVe  went  to  them  and  found 
they  had  been  chasing  a  deer  and  a  bear  in  the  river,  which 
occasioned  those  maneuvers.  The  bear  they  killed,  and  gave 
us  what  we  wanted.  Hero  we  dined.  Mr.  Prather  went  up 
to  a  plantation,  two  miles  above  (where  a  man  and  four  chil- 
dren had  been  killed  four  years  ago),  and  got  some  fine 
peaches.  \Yc  came  on  about  eight  or  nine  miles,  and  encamped 
on  the  Indian  side.  The  hunters  came  on  and  encamped  with 
us.  Our  fears  of  Indians  were  now  vanished.  Fine  moon- 
light evening.     Foggy  toward  morning.     Caught  cat-fish. 

Saturday,  Sept.  13.  Under  way  as  soon  as  it  was  light. 
We  have  lived  very  well.  A  bitter  and  a  biscuit  early  in  the 
morning  ;  breakfast  on  cold  meat.  Stop  between  eleven  and 
twelve  and  cook  our  dinner,  always  fresh  meat,  and  a  strong 
dish  of  cofiFee  and  loaf-sugar.  Supper,  cold  meat  and  tea.  M. 
Vigo  is  finely  acccommodated  with  utensils,  silver-handled 
knives  and  forks,  and  a  proper  traveling  trunk  for  these  uten- 
sils, and  spirits.  Our  hunters  came  on  with  us.  As  we  came 
up  to  Round  Bottom,  we  were  overtaken  by  the  pirogue  from 
Limestone,  with  ten  paddles  and  thirteen  men  on  board  ;  kept 
with  us  for  some  ways.  Another  canoe  with  four  men  pushed 
oft"  from  the  Indian  shore.  We  went  up  to  Grave  Creek,  where 
we  encamped.  Round  Bottom  is  just  below  Grave  Creek, 
and  is  owned  by  General  Washington.  We  went  up  to  the 
house  and  got  coin,  milk,  etc. 

Sunday,  Sept.  14.  Under  way  very  early.  Six  miles  to  Mc- 
Mahon's,  where  we  breakfasted  on  milk,  eggs,  butter,  veal,  etc. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  425 

Went  on  to  Wheeling,  arrived  at  half-past  one,  crossed  over 
to  the  island.  Dined  on  veal  roasted  in  a  pan  by  the  sergeant's 
wife — very  good.  Went  on  four  miles  and  encamped  at  the 
bank  below  a  little  house,  where  we  got  milk,  etc.  Fine  night, 
but  could  not  sleep. 

Monday,  Sept.  15.  Fine  morning  ;  under  way  very  early. 
Stopped  and  breakfasted  at  a  little  clump  of  houses  on  the 
Indian  side.  They  Avere  tomahawk  settlers.  Here  the  wind 
breezed  up  fresh  at  south-west.  Hoasted  a  square  sail ;  went 
on  at  a  great  rate  against  the  stream.  Preparing  to  go 
on  shore.  Mons.  Vigo  gave  me  a  curious  Indian  belt,  and  a 
buffalo  skin  dressed  with  the  hair  on.  Landed  at  Coxe's 
Fort  at  twelve.  Dined  at  Mr.  Prather's,  where  I  took  leave 
of  my  fellow  travelers.  Mr.  Prather  lent  me  a  horse  to  go  to 
Esq.  Wells',  where  I  found  my  horse  in  good  plight.  Paid 
him  one  dollar  for  keeping,  and  9s.  Penn.  money.  Lodged  at 
Esq.  Wells'. 

Tuesday,  Sept.  16.  Rained  in  the  morning.  Went  on  to 
Alex.  Wells',  and  breakfasted  ;  one  shilling,  L.  M.  Tavern  in 
the  woods,  ninepence,  L.  M.  Lodged  at  a  wretched  tavern, 
one  mile  this  side  Washington.  This  is  seventeen  miles  from 
Alex.  Wells',  who  lives  four  from  Charles  Wells',  seven  miles 
from  Coxe's  Fort.  ^ 

Wednesday,  Sept.  17.  Made  my  first  stage  at  Parkinson's, 
eleven  miles  ;  breakfasted.  Next  at  Parkinson's,  at  Devore's 
Ferry  at  Monongahela,  eight  miles;- oats  and  ferriage,  10(/., 
L.  M.  Went  on  to  Sumrell's,  at  Youghiogheny  River.  Drank 
tea  with  Bartlett.  Met  Colonel  Putnam,*  from  Pomfret. 
Lodged  at  Sumrell's. 

Thursday,  Sept.  18.  Bill,  eighteenpence,  P.  M.  Went  on 
to  Mr.  Mitchell's,  four  miles,  where  Jervis,  who  keeps  school 


*Tliis  was  Colonel  Israel  Putnam,  eldest  son  of  the  famous  Major- 
General  Israel  Putnam.  lie,  served  on  the  staff  of  Major-General 
Putnam  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  1788, 
and  selected  a  farm  in  Belpre,  where  he  brought  his  family  in  1795. 
"(Colonel  Putnam  was  a  man  of  sound,  vigorous  mind,  and  remarkable 
for  his  plain  common  sense;  abrupt  and  homely  in  his  manners  and 
address,  but  perfectly  honest  and  upright  in  his  intercourse  with  man- 
kind."— tSce  Hildreth's  Lives  of  the  Early  Settlers  of  Ohio. 


426  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

in  this  neighborhood,  boards.  Andrew  Story  lives  in  the 
same  house,  and  D.  Brown  lives  near.  Sam.  Gushing  went 
with  me.  Made  arrangements  for  their  going  down  the  river. 
Paid  Gushing  twenty  dollars  ;  gave  Jervis  thirty  dollars,  to 
buy  cows,  etc.  Dr.  Story  and  brothers  board  here,  but  were 
gone  to  Pittsburg. 

Friday.,  Sept.  19.  This  morning,  rained.  Breakfasted  and 
set  out  for  Greensborough,  where  INIr.  Porter  lives.  Dined  at 
Price's,  in  the  center  of  the  town.  It  is  a  Pennsylvania  shire- 
town,  which  has  had  only  two  years'  growth  ;  a  considerable 
number  of  new  houses,  tolerably  good,  situated  on  a  hill. 
Bill,  Ss.  P.  M.  Went  to  Mr.  Porter's,  one  mile  north-east 
from  the  town,  and  sixteen  miles  from  Mitchell's.  Tarried  all 
night.  Set  up  and  conversed  the  most  of  the  night ;  very 
much  rejoiced  to  sec  me.     Fair  and  warm  day. 

Saturday.,  Sept.  20.  Mrs.  Porter  went  with  me  to  Hannahs- 
town,  to  see  her  daughter  Sawyer.  Spent  some  time  at  Saw- 
yer's, and  took  my  leave.  Set  out  on  my  journey  home. 
This  is  a  small  town,  of  miserable  log  huts,  two  niiles  from 
Porter's.  Here  I  came  into  the  Pittsburg  road,  and  went  on 
to  Recard's,  a  Dutch  tavern  at  Nine  Mile  Run  (so  called), 
eleven  miles  from  Hannahstown,  a  very  good  house.  Dined ; 
2s.  bd.  P.  M.  This  is  at  the  foot  of  Ghestnut  Ridge.  The 
hill  is  high,  but  not  a  very  bad  road,  nor  very  fatiguing  to 
ascend  or  descend  ;  about  five  miles  over.  Went  on  to  Ligo- 
nier,  nine  miles  from  Recard's.  Put  up  at  Bridges'.  A  good- 
looking  but  ill-natured  landlady.  Just  before  I  came  to  the 
house,  passed  a  pretty  large  stream,  called  the  Loyal  Hanna. 
Here  was  Fort  Ligonier.  Part  of  the  old  and  of  the  new 
Fort  remains. 

Smiday,  Sept.  21.  Went  on  five  miles  to  the  foot  of  Laurel 
Mountain.  Breakfasted  on  bread  and  milk  at  Bennet's ;  one 
shilling.  Grossed  the  mountain  ;  very  rocky  and  steep  ascent ; 
descent  more  moderate.  About  six  miles  over  the  mountain ; 
a  vast  prospect  west  from  the  top.  Came  on  to  Wells',  eleven 
miles  from  Ligonier.  Baited  myself  and  horse;  woman  sick; 
bill  paid  by  prescription.  Went  on  to  Stony  Greek,  at  the 
foot  of  the  Alleghany.  Gated  at  Webster's,  ten  miles  from 
Wells'.     Passed  the  Greek ;  very  stony  and  bad  ;  and  began 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  427 

to  ascend  the  Alleghany  Mountain ;  the  ascent  very  gradual, 
but  the  road  excessively  rocky  and  miry.  Lodged  at  a  house 
on  the  Mountain,  five  miles  from  Webster's;  not  a  tavern,  but 
good  feed  for  horses.  Sheaffer,  a  Dutch  or  Irishman,  I  know 
not  which.  Families  here  going  westward ;  kept  badly. 
Found  vast  quantities  of  Ipecacuanha  on  a  hill  four  miles  this 
side  Laurel  Mountain,    *A  cold  night. 

Monday,  Sept.  22.  Bill,  Is.  M.,  P.  M.  Started  very  early. 
Cold.  Crossed  the  Alleghany  Mountain ;  the  ascent  very 
moderate  ;  the  descent  very  steep  for  one  mile,  but  the  road 
good  ;  very  miry  all  the  way  over  the  Mountain,  in  places, 
until  I  came  to  the  descent,  which  is  very  hard.  It  is  four- 
teen miles  over  the  Mountain.  Breakfasted  at  Ryan's,  twelve 
miles  from  SheafFer's.  This  is  a  new  and  good  house  ;  bill,  2s. 
Went  on  to  Bedford,  to  West's,  twelve  miles  ;  bill.  Is.  Zd. 
Called  on  Dr.  Wall,  and  delivered  my  message  from  Mrs. 
Wells.  Four  miles  beyond  Bedford,  I  came  into  the  Glade 
road  to  Bennet's  tavern,  and  came  on  to  Barndolloes,  at 
Bloody  Run.  Came  through  Dunning's  Slip,  where  the  river 
divides  Dunning  Mountains,  and  in  a  short  distance  passed 
through  another  Slip,  which  divides  Turris  Mountain.  The 
stream  through  Bedford  is  called  Racetown  Branch  of  the 
Juniata.  The  bridge  on  this  side  is  over  Dennis  Creek. 
Barndolloes  is  seven  miles  from  Bedford.  A  dear  Dutch  tav- 
ern ;  bill,  4s.  M.,  P.  M. 

Tuesday,  Sept.  23.  Started  pretty  early,  and  came  on  to 
Martin's,  at  the  Juniata,  seven  miles,  to  breakfast ;  bill.  Is. 
9cZ.,  P.  M.  Three  men  overtook  me,  bound  over  the  Moun- 
tain. Got  one  of  them,  at  the  top  of  Ray's  Hill,  to  take  my 
portmanteaux  and  put  them  on  two  led  horses,  as  my  horse 
was  very  lame.  Stopped  at  Burd's,  Fort  Littleton,  nineteen 
miles  from  Martin's ;  bill,  lOt?.,  P.  M.  Proposed  going  to 
Skinner's,  but  after  we  had  passed  Tuscarora  Mountain,  found 
it  would  be  impracticable  ;  very  dark  and  late.  Stopped  in  a 
wretched  cabin  in  Path  Valley.  Lodged  on  the  floor,  Avith 
only  my  buffalo  skin  for  a  mattress ;  slept  tolerable.  One 
gentleman  from  Bedford,  and  the  other  two  men,  lodged  by 
my  side.     This  is  four  miles  from  Burd's. 

Wednesday,    Sept.    24.     Bill,    Is.    Qd.  P.  M.     We    started 


428  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

about  an  hour  before  day ;  bright  moon.  A  man  who  lived  in 
the  house  went  with  us  ;  found  him  very  agreeable.  Most  de- 
lightful and  romantic  vieAV  of  the  clouds  in  the  valley.  Went 
over  to  Skinner's,  where  I  took  my  carriage,  four  miles  from 
the  cabin.  Breakfasted  at  Skinner's.  A  serious  sweat  over 
the  mountain.  Dined  at  Shippy's,  in  Shippensburg.  Good 
house,  but  rather  too  genteel.  Went  on  to  McCracken's, 
seven  miles,  and  oated  ;  6d.,  P.  M.  Went  on  to  Sample's  and 
lodged,  seven  miles  ;  good  house.  Fellow  played  well  on  the 
violin.     This  is  fourteen  miles  from  Shippensburg.     Fine  day. 

Tliursday,  Sept.  25.  Set  out  early.  Breakfasted  at  Carlisle, 
Foster's  ;  bill,  Is.  9tZ.;  my  horse  shod,  2s.,  P.  M.;  bought  hat, 
eight  dollars.  This  town  has  280  houses.  Went  on  eight 
miles  to  Walker's,  and  oated  ;  ^d.  Went  on  six  miles,  and 
then  left  the  road  I  went  up  in,  and  instead  of  crossing  the 
Susquehannah  at  Harrisbiirg,  turned  to  the  right  and  crossed 
three  miles  below.  Got  some  most  excellent  fruit  at  the  Forks 
of  the  road.  Dined  at  the  Ferry,  before  I  crossed,  at  Farrar's, 
a  new  tavern-keeper,  and  very  attentive  ;  bill  and  ferriage, 
3s.  4tZ.  Went  on  to  Middletown,  a  small  village  near  the  Sus- 
quehanna. Lodged  at  Moore's,  sign  Highlanders,  Grant  and 
Montgomery ;  bill,  2s.  3ci,  P.  M.  Fine  day.  Middletown  is 
twenty-six  miles  from  Carlisle. 

Friday,  Sept.  26.  Did  not  set  out  until  after  sunrise. 
Crossed  a  large  creek,  in  less  than  a  mile  from  town.  Sweet 
Annon  Creek,  and  in  six  miles,  Cannawaga  Creek.  Went  on 
to  Elizabethtown,  eight  miles  from  Middletown,  and  break- 
fasted at  Scott's.  This  is  a  small  clump  of  houses,  on  poor 
land,  though  there  is  one  pretty  large  brick  house  and  one  large 
stone  house.  Road  very  hilly  and  rocky  ;  very  bad.  It  seems 
to  be  over  the  remains  of  South  Mountain,  Avhich  butts  on  the 
Susquehannah,  and  then  extends  a  little  over  the  river.  This 
ridge  divides  Chamberstown  from  Shippensburg,  etc.,  and 
seems  to  run  for  a  long  way  nearly  parallel  with  the  Blue 
Mountain.  Bill,  Is.  6cZ.,  P.  M.  After  I  left  this  road,  it  was 
rather  rocky  for  three  miles,  then  pretty  good.  Rode  nine 
miles,  and  put  up  at  Parren's,  in  Reffoo  Township,  at  Big 
Chickees ;  passed  Little  Chickees  some  ways  back.  Landlady 
gave  me  Jerusalem  cherries,  and  Vandaver's  Apple,  fine  sum- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  429 

mer  Sweetings;    bill,  Is.  Qd.     Went  on   to    Lancaster,   nine 
miles.     Road  good,     A  great  number  of  wagons  with  flour  for 
Newport,  where  it  is  shipped  for  Philadelphia.     Lancaster  is  a 
large  and  ancient  town ;  the  best  built  inland  town  in  America. 
It  is  laid   out,  like  all   the   Pennsylvania   towns,  in  rather  a 
square  form.     The  land  is  high,  as  I  approached  the  town,  but 
level;  fine  for  building.     At  the  part  where  I  entered,  are  the 
old  Brick  Barracks,  and  Commissary's  Store,  Powder-house, 
etc.,  all  out  of  repair.     Passed  down  Queen's  Street   to   the 
Court-house,  which  stands  in  the  center  of  the  squares  of  the 
toAvn,  where  four  angles  are  formed,  like  Carlisle,  the  streets 
coming  up  in  the  center  of  the  sides  of  the  square.     Court- 
house not  large,  but  the  most  elegant  I  have  ever  seen  ;  hand- 
some   fronts    and    ends,  all    four  nearly  alike,  and   a  pretty 
cupola.     Three  other  steeples  in  the  town.     The  churches  not 
large ;  a  Lutheran  church,  a  tower  without  a  steeple,  is  the 
largest.     It  is   built   of  brick   and   elegant,  a  little   south   of 
King  Street,  which  is  a  very  handsome  street,  with  many  brick 
houses,  three  stories,  and  neat.     Turned  at  the  Court-house 
into  this  street.     Stopped  at  Jourdin's,  sign  General  Washing- 
ton, the   best   tavern,   very   good.     Gated   and   had   my   hair 
dressed.     Bill,  9d.,  L.  M.;  barber,  7d.,  L.  M.     King  Street  is 
the  handsomest  in  the  toAvn.     There  are  180  taverns  or  licensed 
houses  of  all  descriptions.     The  town  is  situated,  very  injudi- 
ciously, in  rather  a  valley  ;  liigh  land,  fine  for  building,  west, 
north,  and  east.     One  or  two  other  churches,  with  considerable 
steeples.     A  great  number  of  small  timber  (filled  with  brick) 
built  Dutch  houses  about  the  town,  and  the  beginning  of  Queen 
Street.     Came  on  two  miles,  and  crossed  Conestoga  Creek ; 
not  deep  at  this  time  ;  a  good  bridge  building  over  it.    Lodged 
at  the  foot  of  the  bridge,  east  side,  at  Witmar's,  a  very  good 
Dutch  tavern ;    bill,   3s.   Id.,  P.  M.     Lancaster    is    sixty-six 
miles  from  Philadelphia. 

Saturday,  Sept.  27.  Rose  this  morning  an  hour  before  day 
and  set  out  just  at  day-break  ;  rode  ten  miles,  good  roads,  and 
breakfasted  at  the  sign  of  the  Indian  Chief — Skilcs,  Lacock 
Township.  Bill,  Is.  6d.  P.  M.  Went  on  to  the  sign  of  the 
Tree,  near  the  sign  of  the  Wagon.  Dined  at  Whitecar's,  thir- 
teen   miles.     Roads   excessively   bad — hills,   rocks,   and   gul- 


430  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

leys.  Went  on  to  Millstown  (riglitly  so  called)  ;  stopped  at 
the  sign  of  General  Washington — Downing  ;  eight  miles,  road 
excessive  bad.  Bill,  9d.  P.  M.  Went  on  nine  miles,  to  the 
sign  of  the  Hunting  Chase — Quin's — and  lodged.  Tolerable  ; 
a  new  tavern.     Bill  at  Quin's,  2s.  Id.  P.  Money. 

Sunday,  Sept.  28.  Set  out  just  as  the  sun  rose.  Horse 
rather  lame,  roads  not  good,  breakfasted  at  the  sign  of  the 
Bear — Philip's  ;  Is.  6d.  P.  M.  Seven  miles  and  a  half  from 
Quin's.  AVent  on  ten  and  a  half  miles  to  McFaa's  and  dined  ; 
less  than  ten  miles  to  Philadelphia  (miserable).  Roads  bad, 
hills  and  dales,  some  rocks.  Bill  at  McFaa's,  2s.  6d.  Went 
on  to  Philadelphia,  and  crossed  the  Schuylkill  at  the  Middle 
Bridge.  ,Toll,  dd.  Tlie  bridge  floats ;  is  very  good.  The 
street  from  the  bridge  leads  directly  to  Market  Street.  Put 
up  at  the  Indian  Queen,  in  Fourth  Street,  a  little  south  of  the 
head  of  the  market.  Wrote  to  Mrs.  Cutler.  Walked  the 
lenjTth  of  Front  and  Second  Streets. 

Monday,  Sept.  29.  Rose  early,  left  my  letters,  called  on 
Messrs.  Hews  and  Anthony,  Mr.  Bryson,  Dr.  Clarkson,  and 
others.  Viewed  the  new  court-house,  manufactories,  etc. 
Finished  my  business  by  five,  and  ordered  my  horse.  Bill, 
16s.  Id.  Left  Thompson's  and  came  out  of  the  city  after  the 
lamps  were  lighted.  Began  to  rain  ;  intended  to  come  on  ten 
miles  to  the  Washington  tavern,  but  the  rain  increased,  and  be- 
came like  a  thunder  storm,  which  obliged  me  to  stop  at  Frank- 
fort.    Put  up  at  Paul's.     Rained  very  hard  all  night. 

Tuesday,  Sept.  30.  Broke  away  in  the  morning,  but  still 
cloudy,  wind  high  at  north-east.  Bill,  3s.  2d.  Went  on,  roads 
extremely  wet,  traveling  very  heavy.  Breakfasted.  Bill,  2s. 
2d.  At  ferry,  oats  6(Z.,  toll  bridge,  {)d.  At  Dowdnes,  in 
Bristol,  9t?.  Dined  at  Morton's,  2s.  2d.  Ferry  over  Delaware, 
at  Trenton,  Is.  6t?.  Lodged  at  Smith's  in  Maidenhead.  Bill, 
5s.  10(Z.  Rode  to-day  thirty-four  miles.  Wind  high  at  north- 
east. 

Wednesday,  Oct.  1.  My  horse  very  stiff.  Hired  Smith's 
horse  to  Brunswick,  and  a  boy  to  fetch  liim  back,  for  7s.  'od., 
twenty-four  miles.  Arrived  at  Brunswick  at  twelve.  Gave 
out  at  Kingston,  three  miles  this  side  of  Princetown.  Bill, 
8tZ.     Bill  and  ferry   at  Brunswick,   7s.      Went  on  to   Wood- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  431 

bridge  ten  miles.  Bill  at  Cross  Keys,  9t^.  Went  on  to  Eliza- 
bethto\Yn  and  lodged.  Bill  at  Prentice's,  5s.  Qd.  Wind  very 
liio-h  and  disagreeable  at  nortli-east.     No  rain. 

Thursdaf/,  Oct.  2.  Went  on  early  this  morning.  Break- 
fasted in  Newark,  at  Redding's,  2s.  9d.;  first  ferry.  Is.  Qd.; 
the  second  ferry,  2s.  Ferry  from  Powles  Hook  to  New  York, 
4s.  ^d.  This  is  fifteen  miles  from  Elizabethtown.  Put  up  my 
horse  at  the  stage-house  in  the  street  leading  from  Ordway's 
Market  to  Powles  Hook  Ferry.  Delivered  letters  at  the  War 
Office  ;  called  on  Colonel  Piatt ;  dined  Avith  him,  Duer,  Combs, 
Colonel  Wadsworth,  and  Colonel  Tallraadge,  etc.,  in  company. 
Went  to  Mr.  Henderson's  and  lodged. 

Friday,  Oct.  3,  Very  busy.  Breakfasted  and  dined  with 
Mr.  Henderson  ;  called  on  Mr.  Atkinson  ;  supped  with  Colonel 
Tallmadge  and  lady  at  Mr.  Delafield's.  Called  on  many  of  my 
old  friends.     Lodged  at  Mr.  Henderson's. 

Saturday,  Oct.  4.  Breakfasted  Avith  Piatt.  Dined  with  Mr. 
Atkinson.  Had  a  conference  with  Duer  and  Piatt  at  the 
Board  of  Treasury  Office,  which  closed  my  business  in  the 
city.  Had  my  watch  cleaned,  5s.;  crystal,  2s.;  cap,  2s.  Bill 
for  my  horse,  9s.  9d.  Left  the  city  at  half-past  five  P.  M. 
Came  on  to  Hiate's,  at  King's  Bridge,  fifteen  miles,  and 
lodged.     Good  house.     Bill,  4s.     All  the  above  York  Money. 

Sunday,  Oct.  5.  Went  on  to  Guion's,  East  Chester,  six 
miles,  and  breakfasted ;  very  good  breakfast,  2s.  6d.  Y.  M_ 
Went  on  to  Mrs.  Haviland's,  eleven  miles,  and  dined.  Met 
my  lady  riding  out  on  horseback,  gaily  dressed,  and  horse 
richly  caparisoned.  A  dinner  set  in  high  style.  Bill,  3s. 
Y.  Money.  Went  on  to  Stamford  and  stopped  a  few  minutes. 
Bill,  Is.  Y.  M.  Went  on  to  Norwalk,  lost  my  way  in  the  night, 
and  went  two  miles  in  a  wrong  and  bad  road.  Arrived'  at 
Wentworth's  at  9  o'clock  and  lodged.  Bill,  2s.  4cZ.  L.  M. 
Eighteen  miles  from  widow  Haviland's. 

Monday,  Oct.  6.  Went  on  to  Fairfield  to  breakfast,  thirteen 
miles.  Training.  Much  disturbed  last  night  with  the  firing 
of  guns.  Bill  at  Fairfield,  2s.  L.  i\L  Went  on  to  Stratford. 
Bill,  6d.  Training,  troops  appeared  well.  Ferry,  2s.  Qd. 
West  Haven,  a  good  country  dinner  on  fish.  Landlady  very 
motherly.     Bill,  Is.  6d.     Went  on  to  New  Haven  and  put  up  at 


432  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Atwater's  ;  very  obliging.  Called  on  Di*.  Stiles ;  he  and  his 
lady  gone  to  Newport.  Rambled  about  toAvn  and  revived  old 
ideas.     Bill,  2s.  2d. 

Tuesday,  Oct.  7.  Began  to  rain  in  the  morning  ;  detained 
me  some  time  to  get  my  baggage  and  carriage  in  order.  Went 
on  to  North  Haven  ;  good  breakfast.  Bill,  Is.  Qd.  Went  on 
the  old  road  to  Hartford,  stopped  a  little  beyond  Wallingford 
at  a  miserable  tavern,  eighteen  miles  from  New  Haven. 
Rained  excessive  hard.  Went  on  to  Fuller's,  in  Berlin.  It 
rained  so  hard  I  put  up  nine  miles  from  my  last  stage, 
and  thirteen  from  Hartford.  Dined  and  lodged.  The  land- 
lord has  all  the  attributes  of  a  Connecticut  tavern-keeper  in 
perfection.  A  most  impertinent  rascal — reminded  me  of  a  man 
that  I  knew  at  the  Vineyard,  but  keeps  a  good  house.  I  was 
"well  entertained  ;  a  room,  good  fire,  pipe  and  tobacco,  and 
good  cider.  But  I  expect  to  pay  for  it  well  in  the  morning. 
Had  my  horse  shod  behind  by  him.  Bill  for  the  horse-shoeing, 
and  my  expense,  Qs. 

Wednesday,  Oct.  8.  Went  on  to  Hartford.  Breakfasted  at 
Bull's.  Captain  Pratt  called  upon  me.  Bill,  Is.  9c?.  Ferry, 
Is.  2d.  Made  my  next  stage  ten  miles — Woodbridge's.  Dined. 
Bill,  Is.  Qd.  Met  Avith  two  men  going  to  Ashford.  One  of 
them  consented  to  exchange  horses  ;  put  his  horse  (small  but 
good)  into  my  carriage.  Went  on  to  Dunham's  tavern,  in 
Mansfield,  thirteen  miles,  and  lodged.  Gave  him  refreshments, 
oats,  and  a  pistereen.  What  I  gave  him  and  my  expense 
here,  3s.  4t^. 

Thursday,  Oct.  9.  Went  on  this  morning  to  Esquire  Clark's 
tavern,  eight  miles,  and  breakfasted.  Is.  2(?.  Went  on  to 
Grosvenor's,  ten  miles,  and  dined.  Before  I  got  to  this 
house,  coming  down  the  Ashford  hills,  one  of  the  shafts 
of  my  sulky  gave  way.  Mending  it,  8t^.  Went  on  to  my 
Father's. 

Friday,  Oct.  10.  A  great  number  of  people  in  to  see  me. 
Many  people  are  gone,  and  more  are  going  from  this  place  to 
Muskingum.  Had  my  shaft  better  secured,  2s.  4c?.  Visited 
Mr.  Atkins. 

Saturday,  Oct.   11.     This  morning  set  out  very  early   for 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  433 

Declham.  Epliraim  *  put  a  horse  in  my  carriage,  and  went 
with  me  to  bring  him  back.  Very  rainy,  wind  north-east. 
Stopped  at  Owens',  2s.  Next  stage  at  Arnokl's,  Is.  Qd. 
Ephraim  came  on  to  Franklin,  and  then  returned.  I  came  on 
to  Leftbridge's,  ^d.  Downs',  in  Walpole,  9d.  Very  rainy.  Ar- 
rived at  Mr.  Chickering's  about  10  o'clock,  and  had  the  hap- 
piness to  find  Mrs.  Cutler.     Exceedingly  wet  and  fatigued. 

Sunday.,  Oct.  12.  Preached  for  Mr.  Chickering  all  day. 
Much  unwell.     In  the  evening  several  people  in. 

3Ionday,  Oct.  13.  AVcnt  over  to  Mr.  Dean's  with  Mrs.  Cut- 
ler and  spent  the  day  and  night. 

Tuesday.^  Oct.  14.  Returned  to  Mr.  Chickering's  and  set 
out  for  home.  Sam'l  Dean  put  Brother  Dean's  horse  in  my 
chaise  and  came  with  us.  Stopped  at  Mr.  Curtis'.  Dined  at 
Mr.  Williams',  and  tarried  all  night. 

Wednesday,  Oct.  15.  Set  out  for  home.  Expense  at  the  two 
bridges,  2.s.  \0d.  Came  on  to  Newhalls.  My  horse  appeared 
to  be  not  well.  He  had  got  loose  the  evening  before  in  his 
stable  in  Boston,  and  got  to  an  hogshead  of  oats,  and  eat  a 
prodigious  quantity,  but  I  rather  thought  the  symptoms  were 
those  of  bots,  and  gave  him  up  for  dead.  Got  a  horse  at 
Newhall's  and  came  home.  Expense  at  Newhall's,  7s. ,  at 
Beverly  bridge,  Is.  Q>d.     Arrived  at  home  about  10  o'clock   at 

I,  CD      ' 

night,  having  been  absent  twelve  weeks  and  two  days.  Found 
my  family  well.  My  horse  bore  the  journey  remarkably  well, 
though  he  lost  flesh  considerably,  yet  he  had  never  lost  his 
spirits.  He  is  certainly  one  of  the  best  horses  in  the  country, 
for  my  baggage  was  remarkably  heavy  ;  it  astonished  every 
tavern-keeper  who  unharnessed  or  harnessed  my  horse. 
Saturday.  Oct.  18.     Sent  for  my  horse  and  got  him  home. 

*  Ephraim  Cutler,  Dr.  Cutler's  eldest  son,  born  April  13,  ITfiT;  was 
brought  up  by  liis  grandfather,  lle/.elciah  Cutler,  in  Connecticut;  he 
removed  to  the  Northwest  Territory  in  iT9o,  where  he  engaged  in 
surveying  and  farming.  lie  received  the  appointment  of  Judge  and 
otlier  ofHces  from  (Governor  St.  Clair;  was  elected  to  the  Territorial 
legislature  and  to  the  convention  whicli  formed  the  constitution  of  Ohio 
in  1802.  Judge  Cutler  was  a  member  of  the  state  legislature,  1819-25, 
where  he  labored  to  establish  free  schools  and  an  ad  valorem  system  of 
taxation.     His  long  and  useful  life  closed  July  8,  1853. 

28 


434  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

Oct.  20-21.     Setting  matters  to  rights  about  the  Parish. 

Oct.  24-25.     Company  all  day. 

Lord's  Lay,  Oct.  26.     Mr.  Breck  preached  for  me. 

Tliursday,  Oct.  30.     Lecture.     Mr.  Huntington  preached. 

Friday,  Oct.  31.  Mr.  Smith,  of  Middleton,  spent  the  day 
and  part  of  the  evening  here. 

Tuesday,  Nov.  4.  Quarterly  Fast  here.  Very  pleasant. 
Messrs.  Frisbie,  Cleaveland,  Dana,  and  Sw;iin  present.  Cap- 
tain Cummings,  now  97  years  old,  was  at  meeting,  and  tarried 
"with  us  all  night. 

Nov.  6-8.     Busy  putting  rny  garden  in  repair. 

Lord's  Lay,  Nov.  16.  I  supplied  Mr.  Story  at  Squam.  Mr. 
Dana  preached  here,  who  Avas  supplied  by  Mr.  D.  Story. 

Wednesday,  Noik  19.  Mr.  Story  came  here  on  his  way  to 
Muskingum.  Very  busy  in  preparing  letters  and  papers  to 
gend  by  him. 

Thursday,  Nov.  20.  Busy  writing  letters,  etc.,  for  Mus- 
kingum. 

Friday,  Nov.  21.  Got  ready  for  Mr.  Story  to  set  out.  He 
Trent  away  about  12  o'clock.  Mr.  Prince  came  just  before  he 
set  out  and  dined  with  us. 

[The  departure  of  this  herald  of  the  Cross  was  the  first  step 
toward  establishing  "  religion,  morality,  and  knowledge  "  in 
the  great  North-west.  Many  of  the  Directors  and  Agents,  as 
well  as  proprietors  of  the  Ohio  Company,  expected  to  make 
their  home  in  the  settlement  now  begun  on  the  banks  of  the 
Muskingum,  and  they  did  not  propose  to  leave  behind  them 
the  religious  and  educational  privileges  to  which  they  were  ac- 
customed, but  resolved  to  transplant  them  to  this  new  soil  in 
the  wilderness. 

It  was  Dr.  Cutler's  first  care  on  his  return  to  Massachusetts 
to  seek  and  secure  the  services  of  a  gospel  minister  for  the 
new  settlement.  Remote  as  it  was  from  other  civilized  com- 
munities, and  exposed  to  attacks  from  hostile  Indians,  it  was 
not  an  attractive  field  to  one  familiar  Avith  the  refinements  and 
comforts  of  an  eastern  pastorate,  nor  was  it  easy  to  find  a 
man  competent  and  willing  to  occupy  it.  Happily  Mr.  Daniel 
Story,  who  had  been  preaching  in  Worcester,  consented  to  go. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  and  a  member  of  a 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  435 

family  distinguished  for  ability.  His  sermons,  carefully  pre- 
pared, logical  in  style,  and  practical  in  their  teachings,  his 
pleasing  address  and  courteous  manners,  had  made  him  already 
favorably  known. 

Perhaps,  if  the  tall,  slender,  cultivated  young  man,  who  left 
Dr.  Cutler's  door  that  November  day  to  proceed  on  his  life- 
long mission,  could  have  foreseen  the  hardships  which  awaited 
him  at  that  far-off  western  post,  his  courage  might  have 
failed. 

The  Avinter  was  an  unfavorable  season  for  a  long,  tedious 
journey  across  the  mountain,  and  the  spring  was  somewhat 
advanced,  in  1789,  before  Mr.  Story  arrived  at  Marietta,  Avhere 
a  very  cordial  welcome  met  him.] 

[To  General  JR.  Putnam^ 

Ipswich,  Nov.  18,  1788. 
Dear  Sir : — This  will  be  handed  to  you  by  Mr.  Daniel  Story, 
whom  I  beg  leave  to  introduce  to  your  acquaintance,  in  the 
character  of  a  Preacher,  and  I  hope  he  will  be  very  agree- 
able to  you  and  to  the  people.  He  has  ever  supported  a  re- 
spectable character  in  private  life,  and  as  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel.  The  terms  on  which  he  goes  into  the  country  are 
that  his  board  be  given  him ;  that  he  draAV  from  the  funds 
raised  to  support  preaching  four  dollars  in  silver  per  week  ; 
that  he  be  permitted  to  improve,  if  he  pleases,  a  part  of  the 
lands  near  the  city  granted  for  religious  purposes  ;  that  the 
people  be  requested  to  assist  in  clearing  and  cultivating  them, 
so  far,  at  least,  as  shall  render  his  pay  equal  to  five  dollars 
per  week ;  and  that  he  be  allowed  a  reasonable  compensation 
for  his  expenses  in  going  into  the  country.  These  were  the 
lowest  terms  on  which  he  would  consent  to  go.  He  could 
have  his  board  and  five  dollars  per  week  here,  and  constant 
employ.  As  he  must  lose  several  Sabbaths  in  going  into  the 
country,  he  conceived  it  reasonable  that  he  should  have  a  con- 
sideration for  his  expenses.  There  is  no  other  person,  of  a 
respectable  character,  I  could  engage  on  better  terms.  This 
is  to  be  his  pay  until  other  terms  should  be  agreed  on  between 
him  and  the  Directors  or  the  people  ;  or  that  he  should 
no  longer  continue  to  preach  to  them.     Colonel  Piatt  Avas  so 


436  Life^  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

eno;ao;ed  while  I  was  in  New  York,  that  I  could  not  find  the 
amount  of  the  fund  for  preaching  and  schools ;  there  is,  how- 
ever, a  considerable  sum.  Colonel  Tallmadge  told  me  he  had 
collected  a  considei'able  sum,  which  he  should  pay  into  the 
treasury.  I  presume  money  may  be  drawn  at  any  time  by  or- 
der of  the  Directors. 

Mr,  Rogers  has  concluded  not  to  return,  and  I  wish  the 
school  may  be  given  to  Mr.  William  Dodge,  that  he  be  consid- 
ered  as  a  Grammar  Master,  but  that  he  take  scholars  of  every 
description  for  the  present.  That  the  directors,  or,  if  a  meet- 
ing of  them  can  not  be  held,  that  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  con- 
tract with  him,  as  I  am  uncertain  what  wages  would  be  rea- 
sonable. 

On  my  return  home  I  found  several  letters  from  different 
parts  of  Europe.  The  most  of  them  request  me  to  send  a  par- 
ticular account  of  the  Ancient  Works  found  in  North  America. 
These  works  seem  to  have  engaged  the  attention  of  the  literati 
in  Europe,  and  I  wish  to  gratify  those  with  wdiom  I  have  the 
honor  to  correspond,  as  far  as  possible.  I  must  beg  you  to 
forward  to  me  the  surveys  of  the  works  at  Marietta.  Accu- 
rate measurements  I  find  to  be  of  consequence  in  their 
minds ;  pray  attend  to  the  width  of  the  openings,  and  to  the 
distances  and  relative  situations  of  all  the  works,  to  one  an- 
other. 

I  have  requested  Colonel  Piatt  to  forward  a  sum,  raised  for 
the  support  of  Preachers  and  School-masters,  to  the  Directors 
at  Muskingum,  of  200  dollars  (if  he  has  so  much  on  hand), 
which  will  enable  you  to  pay  the  Preacher  and  Schoolmaster 
for  the  present.  I  have  advanced  to  Mr.  Story  six  dollars  and 
two-thirds,  on  account,  which  you  will  deduct  from  his  Avages. 

When  you  return  in  the  winter  I  hope  to  have  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  you. 

I  am,  Avitli  the  greatest  sincerity,  your  friend  and  humble 
serv't,  M.  Cutler. 

[To  Major  Winfhrop  Sargent^ 

Ipswich,  Nov.  19,  1788. 
My  Bear  Sir : — Should  this  letter  be  handed  you  fit  Marietta, 
I  beg  leave  to  introduce  to  your  civilities  the  bearer,  Mr.  Daniel 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  437 

Story,  who  goes  into  the  country  in  the  character  of  a  clergy- 
man, which  he  has  ever  supported  with  reputation. 

On  my  return  I  found  a  hirge  package  from  the  Chevalier 
Murray,  Professor  of  Botany  and  Materia  Medica  in  the  Uni- 
versity in  Gottingen  (Germany).  lie  desires  me  to  favor  him 
with  an  account  of  the  Ancient  Works  found  in  this  country, 
particularly  their  forms  and  dimensions.  Those  at  Muskingum 
I  shall  be  able  pretty  well  to  ascertain.  You  will  favor  me 
by  sending  me  the  dimensions  of  the  Mound  at  Grave  Creek, 
particularly  the  height,  Avhich  I  think  you  measured ;  also  a 
description  of  any  other  works  down  the  river.  Mr.  Pennant, 
the  famous  Scotch  Zoologist,  has  requested  me  to  send  him 
specimens  of  shells  of  the  several  species  of  animals  of  that 
class  found  in  the  seas,  lakes,  and  rivers  of  North  America. 
If  you  should  find  any  curious  shells  in  your  excursions  down 
the  river,  and  would  send  them  to  my  son  at  Marietta,  you  will 
much  oblige  me. 

I  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  you  that  you  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  at 
their  meeting  in  August  last. 

Governor  St.  Clair  mentioned  to  me  some  Ancient  Works 
of  stone  and  lime  far  down  the  Ohio.  I  will  beg  of  you  to 
present  to  him  my  most  respectful  compliments,  and  to  in- 
quire where  those  works  are  situated,  the  particulars  respecting 
them  which  he  may  be  possessed  of,  and  any  thing  further 
of  which  you  may  be  informed  down  the  river.  It  is  my  in- 
tention to  write  to  him  and  to  you  on  the  subject  of  the  Uni- 
versity in  the  course  of  the  winter. 

I  am  yours. 

Most  sincerely. 

Major  Sargent.  M.  Cutler. 


438  Life  of  Rev.  31anasse1i  Cutler. 


CHAPTER   X. 

Letter  From  Gexkral  Parsoxs — Correspondence  of  Putnam  axd  Cut- 
ler— Directors'  Instructions  to  Putnam  and  Cutler — Letter  to 
Sargent — Putnam's  Letter — Diary,  1790 — Letters — Diary,  1791. 

Marietta,  Dec.  11,  1788. 

Dear  Sir: — I  can  not  longer  neglect  to  inform  you  of  the 
occurrences  which  have  taken  place  here  since  you  left  us. 
The  surveys  of  the  8  acre,  3  acre,  and  City  Lots  being  com- 
pleted, and  the  expectation  of  a  Treaty  still  continuing,  all 
further  surveys  were  suspended  until  about  five  weeks  ago, 
when  we  all  concurred  in  an  Order  to  extend  four  of  our 
Town  Lines  to  the  11th  Range  ;  and.  Judge  Varnum  dissenting, 
two  of  the  Directors  extended  this  Order  to  the  12th,  being 
24  miles  west,  and  to  survey  the  meanders  of  the  Ohio  as  far 
as  to  meet  the  Cross  Lines  in  their  South  Direction.  The 
meanders  of  the  River,  and  the  first  and  second  Lines  to  the 
12th  Range  are  completed,  the  3d  and  4th,  on  a  Treaty,  be- 
ing rendered  certain  and  soon  to  commence,  are,  at  the  de- 
sire of  the  Governor,  suspended  for  the  present.  The  Line 
commencing  6  miles  on  the  7th  Range  appears  nearly  to  ter- 
minate the  River  Hills,  and  after  passing  about  4  miles  West 
of  the  Muskingum  exhibits  an  excellent  campaign  Country, 
very  fertile  and  well  watered.  The  other  Line  passes  over 
the  River  Hills  through  a  broken  Country,  interspersed  with 
good  Lands  and  rich  Bottoms,  but  not  of  so  great  present 
use  as  the  Lands  further  north.  In  this  Line  is  found  excel- 
lent Iron  Ore — being  burnt  and  pulverized  nearly  |  is  at- 
tracted by  the  magnet.  It  appears  to  be  in  great  Plenty. 
The  Treaty  has  just  commenced,  and  upon  the  close  we  will 
pursue  our  Surveys. 

The  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  having  arrived, 
a  number  sufficient  to  proceed  did  not  appear ;  an  adjourn- 
ment took  place,  at  which  time  140  Shares  only  appeared  per- 
sonally, and  by  special  authority,  Colonel  Crary  not  having  then 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  439 

arrived.  We  then  proceeded  to  take  the  Opinion  of  the  Pro- 
prietors present  on  the  subject  of  granting  Lands  to  Settlers, 
and  altering  the  former  mode  of  dividing  our  Lands  agreed 
upon  by  the  Agents  at  Boston.  They  (five  shares  only  dis- 
senting) gave  it  as  their  Opinion  that  it  Avas  a  matter  well 
within  the  Authority  of  the  General  Agents,  and  requested 
them  to  take  up  the  matter  and  to  grant  Lands  to  Settlers, 
not  exceeding  100  acres,  out  of  each  share,  and  to  divide  the 
common  Estate  in  such  manner  as  would  be  most  conducive  to 
the  common  Interest  without  respect  to  former  votes.  The 
Agents  have  taken  up  the  subject,  957  Shares  being  rep- 
resented, and  Colonel  Crary  being  Chairman,  voted  (214  Shares 
represented  by  Colonel  Crary  excepted),  unanimously,  to  make 
grants  of  Lands  to  encourage  Settlement,  not  exceeding  100 
acres  to  each  share  in  the  funds,  and  appointed  a  Committee 
to  reconnoiter  the  Country,  and  affix  the  proper  places  for 
that  purpose,  repealed  the  votes  ordering  the  Mode  of  Divis- 
ion, and  directed  the  Committee  to  examine  where  are  proper 
places  to  divide  farms  to  the  Proprietors.  You  see  we  have 
decided  the  main  point  that  we  will  give.  I  believe  I  ought 
to  say  we  were  unanimous  on  this  question,  for,  altho'  Colonel 
Crary  would  not  vote  for  it,  he  publicly  declared  that  he  was 
fully  in  Opinion  with  us  on  the  general  question.  Judge  Var- 
num  appears  the  only  dissatisfied  person,  but  he  is  now  so 
far  advanced  in  the  stages  of  a  confirmed*  Consumption  that 
nothing;  ought  to  be  remembered  against  him.  I  think  it  more 
probable  he  will  die  within  a  month  than  that  he  will  ever  recover. 
He  intends  setting  out  for  Orleans  in  a  few  days  as  the  only 
remaining  Expedient  for  his  recovery. 

The  Settlers  here  appear  highly  satisfied  with  the  measures 
we  have  taken,  and  very  many  will  go  out  to  those  Lands.  As 
they  must  be  settled  in  the  spring,  or  early  next  summer, 
it  Avill  be  necessary  for  as  many  as  wish  to  receive  the  Dona- 
tions to  be  out  as  soon  as  possible.  We  have  had  an  addition 
of  about  100  within  two  weeks,  and  more  are  expected.  We 
are  constantly  putting  up  buildings,  but  arrivals  are  faster 
than  we  can  provide  convenient  covering.  Between  40  and 
50  Houses  are  so  far  done  as  to  receive  families,  and  10  more 


440  Life  of  Rev.  Manassch  Cutler. 

are  in  building,  about  one-half  of  -wliicli  I  expect  will  be  able 
to  receive  families  next  "week. 

We  still  continue  our  Sabbath  Exercises,  and  last  Monday 
we  had  the  first  Ball  in  our  Country,  at  which  were  present 
15  Ladies,  as  well  accomplished  in  the  mariners  of  polite  cir- 
cles as  any  I  have  seen  in  the  old  States.  I  mention  this  to 
show  the  progress  of  Societv  in  this  distant  Country.  I  be- 
lieve  we  shall  vie  with,  if  not  excell,  the  old  States  in  every 
accomplishment  necessary  to  render  life  happy.  My  wife  has 
beat  a  parley,  and  submitted  a  prisoner  of  war  ;  she  agrees 
to  send  one  of  our  daughters  next  summer,  and  with  the 
family  to  remove  when  I  can  make  it  convenient.  This,  you 
know,  must  give  me  great  satisfaction.  I  think,  Sir,  your 
Return  here  is  not  only  necessary,  but  that  you  will  be  re- 
ceived with  great  Cordiality  by  all  our  Citizens.  I  am  con- 
vinced Judge  Varnum  will  never  return ;  when  all  aniraosit}' 
will  cease. 

We  continue  to  enjoy  health  and  peace,  and  I  have  Rea- 
son to  hope  all  matters  will  be  settled  with  the  Indians.  They 
continue  to  say  they  have  no  objection  to  this  settlement,  and 
that  we  are  much  more  acceptable  to  them  than  any  Settlers 
Avith  whom  they  have  been  before  acquainted.  If  you  intend 
the  vote  to  close  all  payments  in  June  shall  be  extended  to  a 
further  Time,  you  must  be  here,  or  at  least  bring  Sargent  and 
Putnam  to  support  it.  I  shall  agree  for  myself  and  Barlow  ; 
the  votes  will  then  stand  : 

Sargent,  106 

Cutler,     151 
Perhaps  Dodge,    17         Parsons,  123 

May,    36         Putnam,     65       Contra, 
Tallmadge,    47         Harris,       43  Rhode  Island,  257 


100  548 

The   weather  continues   very   fine.     I    finished   sowing  my 
grain  this  Day.     No  snoAv. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem  and  respect,  ■ 

Yr.  ob't  serv't, 

Sam.  H.  Paksoxs. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianas8e/i  Cutler.  441 

23c?  Jan'y,  1789.  My  letter  not  having  met  the  expected 
Conveyance,  Mr.  Oliver  having  altered  his  mind,  I  can  now  in- 
form you  that  the  Treaty  ended  the  17th,  to  the  satisfaction 
of  all  concerned,  and  we  still  continue  in  peace,  and  have  a 
prospect  of  remaining  so.  Judge  Varnum  left  this  world,  in 
which  he  was  very  unhappy,  the  10th  inst.,  for  a  better,  I  hope, 
where  he  will  enjoy  a  Tranquillity  to  which  he  was  a  stranger 
here.  He  was  buried  the  14th  with  great  Decency,  not  less 
than  200  men  attended  in  the  Procession  ;  the  Masons.  Cin- 
cinnati, civil  Officers,  and  those  of  the  Militia,  formed  part 
of  the  Procession. 

We  chose  another  Director,  the  19th,  when  the  choice  fell  on 
Griff"en  Greene,  Esq.,*  from  Rhode  Island,  in  exclusion  of 
Colonel  Crary.  Votes  for  Mr.  Greene,  566  ;  for  Colonel  Crary, 
124.  Mr.  Greene  has  made  himself  very  agreeable  to  us  since 
he  has  been  here  ;  appears  much  of  the  Gentleman,  and  a 
person  of  great  Candor.  Br.  Crary  is  much  mortified,  and  is 
about  protesting  against  the  Choice.  I  feel  sorry  for  his 
mortification  ;  I  was  the  only  person  voting  for  him,  but  I 
own  I  am  well  pleased  with  Mr.  Greene.  Our  animosities  have 
subsided,  and  all  appear  friendly. 

We  have  ordered  a  Division  to  the  Proprietors  of  160  acres 
to  each  Right  to  be  drawn  the  3d  Tuesdav  of  March,  within  the 
settling  Rights.  We  have  voted  to  give  200  settling  Rights  to 
Non-proprietors  before  the  first  of  Oct'r,  and  those  Proprietors 
who  by  that  time  will   agree   to   settle   their  own  Rights   by 

*Griffen  Greene  was  born  in  Warwick,  Ehode  Island,  1749.  He 
served  during  the  Revolution  as  Commissary  to  the  Rhode  Island 
troops,  Paymaster  and  A-ssistant-Quarteimaster  when  his  cousin,  Gen- 
eral Nathaniel  Greene,  was  Quartermaster-General  of  the  Army.  He 
came  with  his  family  to  Marietta  in  1788,  and  was  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor St.  Clair,  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Judge  of  tlie  Court  of  Quarter 
Sessions.  In  1802  he  was  appointed  by  President  Jefferson,  Postmaster 
at  Marietta,  Revenue  Collector  for  that  district,  and  Inspector  of  the 
Port,  ships  being  then  cleared  from  that  place.  He  dietl  in  18U4.  Mr. 
Greene,  in  1795,  constructed  the  model  for  a  steam-engine,  to  be  used 
in  propelling  boats  on  the  Ohio  River.  With  Mr.  Elijah  Backus  he 
expended  a  considerable  sum  in  building  an  engine  in  Philadelphia. 
It  proved  a  failure,  by  reason  of  defects  in  the  construction. — iSee  Hil- 
dretlis  Lives  of  the  Earlj  Settlers  of  Ohio. 


442  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

themselves,  or  others,  shall  have  Right  so  to  do — if  any  more  va- 
cant Rights  at  that  time  they  shall  aslo  be  given  to  settlers.  The 
Duties  are  five  years'  residence  on  the  Donation  lands,  within 
that  time  to  build  a  House,  at  least  24  by  18  feet,  a  stone  or 
brick  chimney,  a  cellar,  and  to  clear  twenty  acres  within  three 
years,  to  set  out  50  apple  Trees  and  20  peach  Trees,  and  obey 
all  militia  laws. 

I  beg  you  will  come  on  as  soon  as  possible  ;  we  all  want  you, 
I  am  sure  you  will  be  welcome,  I  can  preach  no  longer  for 
you.  Deacon  Story  does  very  well,  but  on  the  public  Thanks- 
giving I  was  obliged  for  the  first  time  to  preach,  much  against 
ray  will,  from  Psalm  103,  v.  2,  and  such  a  piece  of  work  I  be- 
lieve you  never  heard ;  I  am  sure  I  never  did.  To  confirm 
my  wife  in  her  faith  I  have  sent  it  to  her  perusal. 

Y'r  friend,  S.  H.  P. 

\_To  Rev.  Mr.  Cutler  by  Captain  Bodge i\ 

Marietta,  March  25,  1789. 

Dear  Sir : — Before  this  reaches  you  I  presume  you  will  see 
the  proceedings  of  the  Company  relative  to  promoting  a  set- 
tlement in  the  Country,  as  they  were  some  time  since  forwarded 
to  Colonel  Piatt,  with  an  order  to  publish  them  in  the  papers, 
and  I  hope  they  will  meet  your  approbation,  as  well  as  ev- 
ery other  proprietor.  For  Avhat  has  been  done  in  consequence 
of  them,  I  must  refer  you  to  Captain  Dodge  for  information. 

Mr.  Story  has  been  with  us  one  Sabbath.  By  him  I  received 
your  favor  of  the  18th  of  November  last.  We  rejoice  much  at 
his  arrival,  and  I  trust  we  shall  make  his  situation  agreeable. 

.  .  .  With  respect  to  the  Indians  in  this  quarter,  I  must 
also  refer  you  to  Captain  Dodge.  Mr.  Ludlow  arrived  yester- 
day from  Judge  Symraes'  Settlement  at  the  Miami ;  the  In- 
dians are  friendly  in  that  quarter,  and  come  in  to  trade.  Mr. 
Ludlow  *  has  surveyed  the  Ohio  down  to  the  Scioto  River,  and 


*  Israel  Ludlow,  afterward  prominent  among  the  early  citizens  of 
Cincinnati,  was  then  in  the  employ  of  the  United  States  Government 
as  a  Surveyor,  and  was  enizaged,  under  direction  of  Captain  Thomas 
Hutchins,  Surveyor-General,  in  running  the  exterior  lines  of  the  lands 
purchased  by  the  Ohio  Company,  by  Culler  and  Sargent  for  the  Scioto 
Associates,  and  by  Judge  Symmes. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  443 

Mr.  Martain  has  taken  the  meanders  of  the  Scioto  60  or  70 
.miles  up.  In  two  or  three  weeks  Mr.  Ludlow  Avill  begin  the 
survey  of  the  Northern  Boundary  line  of  the  whole  Purchase. 
By  these  measures  you  will  perceive  the  necessity  we  are  un- 
der to  be  ready  as  soon  as  possible  to  make  the  second  pay- 
ment. 

Mr.  Ludlow  gives  a  most  flattering  description  of  the  Ohio 
Company's  land  down  the  River,  and,  among  other  things,  in- 
forms us  that  our  lands  will  extend  west  within  27^  miles^  the 
mouth  of  the  Scioto  River,  and  the  Great  Salt  Spring  on  the 
eastern  waters  of  the  Scioto  will  certainly  be  ours.  But  it  is 
now  half-past  one  in  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  March,  and  I 
can  add  no  more,  but  that  I  am,  with  the  most  perfect  esteem, 
Sir,  your  Friend  and  very  humble  servant, 

Mh.  Cutler.  Rufus  Putnam. 

[To  General  Putnam.^ 

Ipswich,  April  9,  1789. 

Bear  Sir: — I  have  been  disappointed  in  not  receiving  a 
line  from  you  since  I  left  Marietta,  but  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  receiving  a  letter  from  Judge  Parsons  a  few  days  ago 
of  Jan.  23d,  since  which  Giddings,  of  this  town,  has  arrived, 
Avho  left  Marietta  the  27th  of  Feb.,  but  brought  no  letters. 
It  gave  me  much  pleasure  to  be  informed  by  General  Parsons 
that  you  decided,  on  the  question,  in  favor  of  giving  lands 
for  the  encouragement  of  settlers,  which  I  find  gives  great 
satisfaction  to  adventurers.  The  proposal  for  making  such  a 
grant  has  been  approved,  by  every  person  concerned  in  the 
company,  that  I  have  seen  since  my  return. 

The  favorable  termination  of  the  treaty  has  also  had  a  very 
good  effect.  There  are  a  considerable  number  of  families  in 
this  neighborhood  that  will  sell  out  in  the  course  of  the  sum- 
mer, and  within  these  ten  days  I  have  had  application  for 
shares.  Many  Avho  have  paid  only  part  begin  to  make  exer- 
tions for  completing  their  payments,  but  I  have  not  yet  re- 
ceived 500  dollars  in  securities  since  my  return. 

If  the  time  for  closing  the  payments  is  not  extended  be- 
yond June,  my  agency  will  stand  nearly  as  in  the  statement  I 
sent  you,  about  one-half  deficient.  I  most  ardently  wish  to 
close  my  agency  then,  as  I  have  had  quite  as  much  trouble  as 


444  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

I  wish  to  have  in  the  matter,  but  I   am  fully  convinced  it  will 
be  injurious  to  the  Company. 

To  attempt  a  forfeiture  of  the  money  of  those  Avho  have 
paid  only  part,  Avili  give  great  uneasiness,  and  raise  a  prodig- 
ious clamor  against  the  Company.  If  I  give  up  my  agency 
then,  I  shall  insist  on  as  many  shares  as  the  aggregate  of  the 
mone3^s  which  I  have  paid  will  purchase,  and  shall  make  arrange- 
ments accordingly.  Another  difficulty  in  making  payments 
has  been  the  rise  of  securities,  at  first  occasioned  by  a  Dutch 
speculation  to  a  great  amount,  since  by  a  general  (but  stupid) 
belief  that  the  new  Congress  will  pay  the  interest  in  hard 
money.  They  are  now  from  4s.  Qd.  to  5s.,  but  those  who  are 
best  informed  are  confident  that  the  neAv  Congress  will  make 
no  other  establishment  for  the  payment  of  the  Domestic 
debt  than  the  western  lands  ;  that  principals  and  interests  will 
be  received  in  payment ;  for  if  the  interest  was  to  be  paid 
in  silver  the  domestic  debt  Avould  be  immediately  transferred 
to  a  foreign  one  ;  that  Congress  had  better  pay  6s.  to  her  own 
subjects  in  lands  than  2s.  to  foreigners  in  coin.  Should  Con- 
gress confirm  the  former  establishment  for  paying  the  domes- 
tic debt,  and  admit  indents,  securities  would  instantly  fall, 
and  we  should  meet  Avith  no  difficulty  in  collecting  the  re- 
mainder of  our  money. 

In  this  state  of  things  I  am  clearly  of  opinion  it  Avould  be 
for  the  interest  of  the  company  to  extend  the  time  until 
September,  Avhich  will  be  as  early  as  we  can  expect  to  know 
the  determinations  of  Congress,  and  for  those  determinations 
to  have  any  effect.  There  are  several  other  agencies  in  the 
same  dilemma  Avith  my  OAvn,  though  they  are  not  so  large. 

I  beg  you  to  mention  the  matter  to  Major  Sargent,  as  the 
bearer,  Avho  is  noAV  Avaiting,  Avill  not  tarry  for  me  to  Avrite  to  him. 
Those  Avho  paid  their  money  need  be  under  no  anxiety  about 
their  deeds,  if  they  knoAv  the  money  is  paid  into  the  treas- 
ury, for  the  contract  already  made  secures  the  lands  as  ef- 
fectually as  any  deeds  that  can  be  given  by  Congress. 

It  slipped  my  mind,  Avhen  I  began  my  letter,  that  I  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  you  by  Mr.  Witham.  .  .  .  He  gives 
our  purchase  the  preference  to  Symmes'.  I  am  extremely 
mortified  to  hear  that  Mr,  Daniel  Story  has  made  so  sIoav 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianassch  Cutler.  445 

progress  into  the  country.     He  set  out,  I  think,  ahout  the  last 
of  Nov.,  and  I  hear  had  not  arrived  the  last  of  Feb. 
I  can  only  add  that  I  am  yours, 

Most  aifectionately, 

M.  Cutler. 


Copy  of  Instructions  to  R.  Putnam  and  M.  Cutler. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Directors  of  the   Ohio  Company,  May  6, 
1789. 

Present :    Sam'l    Holden    Parsons,   Rufus    Putnam,    Griffin 
Greene,  Esquires. 

Ordered :  That  Rufus  Putnam,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  M.  Cutler  be, 
and  they  are  hereby,  empowered,  in  the  behalf  of  the  Directors, 
to  make  such  application  to  Congress  as  they  shall  judge 
proper,  either  for  the  grant  of  lot  No.  29,  in  the  second  Town- 
ship in  the  8th  Range  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, which  interferes  with  the  building  of  their  first  Town, 
or  for  the  exchange  of  lot  No.  29  for  lot  No.  8,  or  some 
other  lands,  to  make  such  application  to  Congress  as  they 
shall  judge  expedient  for  procuring  a  charter  for  the  Uni- 
versity, and  for  the  encouragement  of  learning  in  this  settle- 
ment. That  they  take  effectual  measures  for  closing  all  the 
accounts  of  the  Agents  on  the  Treasurer's  books,  and  for  the 
speedy  collection  of  any  moneys  that  may  remain  due.  And 
if  any  shares  shall  not  be  paid  for,  they  are  empowered  to  as- 
sume those  shares  on  the  Company's  Acct.,  and  to  negotiate 
those  shares  Avith  Congress,  or  dispose  of  them  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage, in  order  that  a  settlement  may  immediately  be  made 
with  Congress.  They  are  also  empowered  to  receive  of  the 
Treasurer  the  moneys  and  army  warrants  which  have  been 
paid  for  shares,  and  to  pay  the  same  to  the  United  States,  in 
order  that  the  contract  of  the  Company  be  fulfilled.  And 
they  are  to  act  and  do  whatever  they  shall  find  necessary  in 
order  to  obtain  a  deed  of  the  lands  purchased.  And  if  a  deed 
can  not  otherwise  be  obtained,  they  are  empowered  to  give 
security  for  such  sum  as  may  be  deficient  after  the  payment  of 
the  moneys  received.  And  all  orders  drawn  and  all  accounts 
of  Agents  and  Subscribers  settled  and  closed  by  them  shall  be 


446  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

held  good  and  valid.     And  for  their  doings  they  are  to  Acco't 
"with  this  board. 

(Signed,)  W,  Sargent, 

Sec  if  of  the  Ohio  Company. 

[General  Putnam  to  Dr.  Cutler.     [Honored  hy  Captain  Bana.y] 

Marietta,  3Iay  16,  1789. 

Dear  and  Reverend  Sir: — Your  favor  of  the  9th  ult.  came 
to  hand  a  few  days  since,  on  the  subject  of  collecting  the  sub- 
scriptions, etc.  Judge  Parsons,  Mr.  Justice  Greene,  and  my- 
self have  wrote  you  officially,  as  Directors,  by  the  same  con- 
veyance as  this  ;  therefore,  shall  only  add  that  I  never  had  an 
idea  that  the  money  paid  by  any  subscriber  should  be  for- 
feited, but  that  every  agent  Avould  have  a  deed  for  the  aggre- 
gate quantity  of  lands  he  paid  for,  the  same  making  a  cer- 
tain number  of  shares,  and  that  he  should  arrange  the  matter 
among  his  subscribers  in  such  manner  as  he  thought  proper, 
and  you  will  perceive  by  our  letter  that  we  all  conceive  the 
matter  in  the  same  light. 

The  Resolve  of  the  Company  in  July  last  did  no  more,  in 
my  opinion,  than  to  put  an  end  to  the  claim  of  delinquent 
subscribers  for  having  their  moneys  received  in  preference  to 
other  men,  who  had  not  subscribed,  and  by  this  means  re- 
moved the  embarrassment  which  you  and  others  were  under, 
and  must  have  continued  under,  without  that  vote  to  sell 
shares  to  non-subscribers  whenever  you  had  an  opportunity, 
for  money  in  hand,  without  the  consent  of  A.  and  B.,  who  had 
subscribed  and  not  paid.  That  Resolve  also  placed  the  lands 
not  paid  for  by  the  first  of  June  Avhere  they  ought  to  be,  viz., 
in  the  hands  of  the  Directors  as  a  fund  to  raise  money  in  the 
best  manner  they  can  for  the  purpose  of  discharging  the  con- 
tract with  Congress  in  a  proper  time.  This,  also,  you  will 
perceive,  is  our  joint  opinion,  as  we  have  requested  you  to  in- 
spect into  the  collections  made  by  agents  in  your  neighbor- 
hood, and  to  push  them  to  as  speedy  a  collection  as  possible. 
This,  you  are  sensible,  must  be  for  our  interest.  For  my  own 
part,  I  wish  to  see  the  business  closed.  Mr.  Ludlow  has  been 
on   the   northern   boundary  three   weeks   or  more.     We  have 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasse7i  Cutler.  447 

reason  to  expect  that  in  three  or  four  weeks  more  that  survey 
will  be  completed. 

You  say  the  contract  already  made  secures  the  lands  as  ef- 
fectually as  any  deed  that  can  be  given  by  Congress.  I  sup- 
pose you  mean  to  750,000  acres,  because  the  contract  gives  us 
a  right  of  entry,  occupancy,  etc.  You  offer  this  argument  to 
quiet  our  minds  whose  money  is  paid  into  the  Treasury  ;  but, 
sir,  this  will  not  do,  for,  if  we  can  hold  the  lands  already  paid 
for,  we  can  not  oblige  Congress  to  take  the  remainder  of  the 
moneys  we  have  collected  unless  the  Avhole  is  completed,  and 
therefore  a  part  of  us  must  be  disappointed ;  besides,  what- 
ever you  may  think  of  our  present  title,  it  is  dangerous  to 
quarrel  with  that  power  Avho  may  determine  a  fox's  ears  to  be 
horns. 

I  did  not  Avrite  you  immediately  on  the  doings  of  the  Com- 
pany in  December  and  January,  because  Judge  Parsons  un- 
dertook the  business,  and  I  Avas  too  much  engaged  to  have 
been  particular.  By  Captain  Dodge  I  wrote  you  a  short  let- 
ter, referring  you  to  him  for  information,  who  was  furnished 
with  means  to  give  you  full  information. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  the  tide  is  turning  with  respect  to  our 
purchase  ;  the  saying  is,  every  dog  must  have  his  day,  but  I 

hope  and  believe  that  the  C s  and  D s  will  have  a  short 

day.  One  thing  I  am  sure  of — that  our  purchase  will  bear 
examination,  and  the  more  it  is  known,  the  better  it  will  be 
esteemed.  The  lands,  I  verily  believe,  are  equal  to  any  in 
the  Western  Territory;  they  are  most  excellently  watered, 
and  the  climate  is  exceeded  by  none.   , 

You  will  doubtless  hear  of  the  murder  of  Captain  King  be- 
fore this  reaches  you  and  be  anxious  to  know  the  particulars. 
They  are  these:  Captain  King,  with  others,  went  to  make  a 
settlement  down  the  Ohio  about  fourteen  miles  and  in  the 
very  quarter  where  it  might  be  expected  the  Indians  who 
refused  to  come  to  the  Treaty  would  be  lurking  for  mischief, 
if  any-where.  The  people  were  sufficiently  warned  to  be  cau- 
tious, but  they  were  careless  ;  seeing  or  hearing  of  no  bad  In- 
dians in  the  woods  for  a  long  time,  they  were  too  secure. 
Captain  King  Avent  from  day  to  day,  near  a  mile  from  other 


448  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

people,  to  work,  alone  and  without  liis  arms,  and  in  this  sit- 
uation he  was  when  he  was  shot  and  scalped,  by  whom  is  un- 
known ;  however,  none  suspect  any  of  the  Indians  who  Avere 
at  the  Treaty  of  having  a  hand  in  the  murder. 

I  expect  to  set  out  for  Massachusetts  in  three  weeks,  at 
farthest;  shall  come  by  way  of  New  York,  and  perhaps  shall 
have  some  further  information  respecting  our  payment  when  I 
come  on.  Remember,  sir,  we  wish  and  expect  3'ou  will  be  an 
inhabitant  among  us  as  soon  as  you  can  make  it  convenient. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  with  respect, 

Your  humble  servant, 

RUFUS    PUTXAM. 

[^To  Major' Sargent.~\ 

Ipsavich,  September  28,  1789. 

My  Dear  Sir : — Your  obliging  letter,  of  March  14,  is  the 
only  one  I  have  been  favored  with  from  your  hand  since  my 
return  from  Marietta,  although  I  have  before  and  since  repeat- 
edly wrote  you.  But  I  find  your  hand  has  been  much  better 
employed,  and  before  I  proceed  any  farther,  give  me  leave  to 
stop  and  congratulate  you  on  giving  it  to  a  very  amiable  and 
agreeably  young  Lady.  You  can  not  fail  of  being  happy  in 
the  judicious  choice  you  have  made  of  a  companion  and  part- 
ner of  vour  future  good  fortune.  Matrimony,  I  had  conceived, 
was  the  only  object  that  would  frighten  you,  but  true  bravery 
rises  superior  to  every  hazard.  The  young  Lady  has  certainly 
done  herself  great  honor  in  the  conquest  she  has  made.  You 
have  both  my  Avarmest  Avishes  that  ever}'  species  of  conjugal 
happiness  may  constantly  attend  you.  This  intelligence,  of 
all  others  the  most  unexpected,  I  enjoyed  Avith  no  common 
emotions  ;  for,  Avithout  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  I  foresee  the 
addition  of  no  small  degree  of  happiness  to  a  friend  I  most 
sincerely  respect  and  esteem.  But  it  Avas  an  event,  hoAv- 
ever,  I  could  not  fail  of  recording  in  my  book  of  unaccount- 
ables. 

General  Putnam  has  made  me  a  visit,  and  Ave  had  agreed  to 
go  on  to  NcAv  York  the  first  of  November,  but  the  unexpected 
adjournment  of  Congress  Avill  oblige  us  to  postpone  it  until 
after  the  first  Wednesday  in  December.     In  the  meantime,  Ave 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  449 

are  settling  with  the  Agents,  and  preparing  to  complete  our 
contract.  There  will  be  from  50  to  100  shares  delinquent, 
but  think  we  shall  be  able  to  obtain  a  deed  for  the  whole 
purchase,  should  we  succeed  with  Congress  agreeably  to  our 
Avishes. 

If  Congress  should  be  disposed  to  favor  the  establishment 
of  the  University,  I  am  confident  it  will  have  no  inconsidera- 
ble influence  on  the  spirit  of  migration  from  this  part  of  the 
country.  I  hope  by  the  time  your  eldest  son  has  completed 
his  scholastic  studies  the  University  will  be  in  a  condition  to 
admit  him  a  member. 

I  have  the  honor  of  inclosing  a  Certificate  of  your  being 
elected  a  member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sci- 
ences, which  I  had  the  pleasure  of  announcing  to  you  in  a  former 
letter.  So  great  is  the  vis  inertia  that  reigns  in  the  Secreta- 
ries of  that  Society,  that  it  has  been  some  years  before  mem- 
bers have  been  notified  of  their  election.  I  have  been  induced 
in  Several  instances,  from  this  unpardonable  delay,  to  take  the 
Certificates  and  forward  them  to  my  friends. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  esteem,  dear  sir. 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

WiNTHROP  Sargent,  Esq.  M.  Cutler. 

l^From  General  Putnam.^ 

Rutland,  Mass.,  December  20,  1789. 
Dear  Sir : —  ...  I  have  made  a  plan  of  the  ancient 
works  in  the  best  manner  I  can,  and  hope  the  description  will  ' 
be  satisfactory.  If  I  have  an  opportunity,  I  will  forward  it  to 
you  before  I  come  to  Boston;  but,  if  not,  will  bring  it  with 
me,  and  hope  you  will  call  on  me  at  Mr.  Bracket's  the  second 
Thursday  of  January,  where  we  may  have  an  opportunity  to 
consult  further  on  the  measures  to  be  taken  with  Congress. 
But,  if  any  thing  prevents  your  coming  there,  I  shall  leave 
the  plan  with  Mr.  Bracket,  to  be  forwarded  you  by  the  first 
opportunity  ;  or,  perhaps,  send  it  by  your  Representative,  if  I 
don't  see  you  in  Boston,  nor  hear  from  you.  As  soon  as  I 
can  dispatch  my  business  there,  I  shall  set  off  for  New  York, 
on  the  business  I  was  to  have  been  upon  this  month,  and  shall 
29 


450  Life  of  liev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

give  you  the  earliest  information  of  every  thing  that  turns  up. 
I  have  letters  from  General  Parsons  and  Major  Sargent  on  the 
subject  you  mention  that  they  wrote  to  you  upon,  which  I  will 
communicate  when  we  meet,  for  they  are  too  long  to  tran- 
scribe. I  have  had  no  letters  from  any  other  person  since  I 
came  home,  except  Mr.  Matthews,  giving  account  of  his  dis- 
aster in  the  woods,  of  which,  I  conclude,  you  are  well  informed. 
I  am  told  that  final  settlements  are  rising,  and,  if  so,  we  shall 
never  be  able  to  collect  the  whole  sum  necessary  to  complete 
the  payment  according  to  contract,  and,  of  course,  shall  be 
under  the  necessity  of  compromising  with  Congress  somehow 
or  other.  In  this  view  of  the  matter,  it  is  my  opinion  that  no 
more  divisions  should  take  place  till  we  know  the  result  of  our 
applications  to  Congrsss  on  that  subject,  and  that  we  ought  to 
write  to  the  agents  at  Muskingum  our  sentiments  on  this  subject 
as  soon  as  may  be.  General  Parsons,  in  his  letter,  is  very  ur- 
gent for  a  settlement  with  Congress,  and  the  obtaining  a  title, 
even  though  a  considerable  sacrifice  is  made.  So  am  I.  But, 
at  present,  if  we  could  get  a  title  by  giving  Bond  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  money  due,  I  should  be  loath  to  involve  myself 
and  the  little  property  I  have  in  such  a  business.  The  only 
way  that  I  conceive  eligible  is  by  giving  a  part  of  the  land  to 
obtain  a  title  for  the  rest,  and  this  might  be  done  in  one  of 
these  two  ways :  Either  take  off  the  quantity  not  paid  for  in  one 
tract,  or  that  the  several  shares  not  paid  for  should  be  given  up 
to  Congress  throughout  the  whole  tract,  in  the  divisions  made 
or  to  be  made  by  the  Company,  and  to  be  sold  for  the  benefit 
of  Congress,  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  direct.  The  latter 
method  would,  no  doubt,  be  most  advantageous  to  Congress. 
But  in  both  cases  they  will  be  gainers  by  us,  as  the  value  of 
the  lands  must  be  enhanced  by  the  surveys  and  settlements 
we  have  already  made,  and  should  continue  to  make,  in  the 
country.  Such  a  proposal,  I  think,  they  will  not  refuse,  for 
they  must  know  that  if  people  can  not  obtain  a  title  to  the 
lands  they  have  paid  for,  there  will  be  an  end  to  any  rapid 
settlement  in  the  country,  and  all  prospects  of  future  sale  and 
settlement  in  the  Western  Country  will  be  nearly  at  an  end. 
I  have  not  yet  sent  my  letter  to  Mr.  Ames.  I  want  you 
should  first  inspect  it.     And  for  all  these  purposes,  most  earn- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  451 

estly  request  that  you  will  meet  me  at  Boston  on  the  day  be- 
fore mentioned. 

Believe  me,  my  dear  sir, 

Your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

RuFus  Putnam. 

\_From  General  Putnam^ 

Boston,  January  16,  1790. 

Dear  Sir: — I  wrote  you  some  time  since,  requesting  you  to 
meet  me  here  last  Thursday,  and  am  very  sorry  at  the  disap- 
pointment. I  shall  leave  your  pamphlet,  with  my  plan  of  the 
ancient  Avorks  and  a  dozen  of  Dr.  Drown's  Oration,  with  Mr. 
Crocket,  for  him  to  forAvard,  if  an  opportunity  presents,  or  de- 
liver to  your  order.  Mr.  Thomas  sells  these  at  Is.  Qd.  each, 
but  to  me  they  come  at  19t^. 

You  know,  I  suppose,  that  General  Parsons  is  dead,  and 
that  the  Agents  are  pushing  on  a  division  of  all  the  land  as 
fast  as  possible.  This,  if  not  prevented,  may  throw  us  into 
the  greatest  confusion,  as  we  know  not  on  what  terms  Ave  can 
settle  Avith  Congress. 

I  shall  leave  this  town  on  Monday,  and  in  the  stage  that 
leaves  Boston  on  the  next  Monday,  I  shall  take  my  passage  to 
New  York ;  shall  go  on  board  Tuesday  at  Spencer,  and  most 
earnestly  request  you  Avill  be  my  company,  or,  if  not,  that  you 
Avill  come  on  as  soon  as  possible  ;  for,  the  state  of  our  affairs  at 
Marietta,  the  President's  speech  respecting  education  and 
other  matters,  as  well  as  the  matters  contained  in  our  commis- 
sion, in  my  opinion,  require  the  immediate  attendance  of  us 
both  at  New  York. 

I  am,  sir,  Avith  much  respect. 

Your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler,  Rufus  Putnam. 

At  Ipsavich. 

P.  S. — I  shall  lodge  at  Mrs.  Wheaton's,  by  the  English 
Chapel. 

[General  Putnam  probably  referred  to  the  folloAving  extracts 
from  President  Washington's  Address  to  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives and  to  the  Senate,  Jan.  8,  1790  : 

"  Nor  am  I  less  persuaded  that  you  Avill  agree  with   me  in 


452  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

opinion,  that  there  is  nothing  which  can  better  deserve  your 
patronage    than    the     promotion    of    science    and    literature. 
Knowledge  in  every  country  is  the  surest  basis  of  public  hap- 
piness.    In  one  in  which  the  measures  of  Government  receive 
their  impression  so  immediately  from  the  the  sense  of  the  com- 
munity, as  in  ours,  it  is  proportionably  essential.     To  the  se- 
curity of  a  free  constitution  it  contributes  in  various  ways. 
By  convincing  those  who  are  intrusted  with  the  public  admin- 
istration, that  every  valuable  end  of  Government  is  best  an- 
swered by  the  enlightened  confidence  of  the  people,  and  by 
teaching  the   people   themselves   to   know  and  to  value  their 
own  rights,  to  discei'n  and  provide  against  invasions  of  them, 
to  distinguish  between  oppression  and  the  necessary  exercise 
of  lawful  authority  ;  between  burdens  proceeding  from  a  dis- 
regard to  their  convenience,  and  those  resulting  from  the  in- 
evitable exigencies  of  society  ;    to  discriminate  the  spirit  of 
liberty  from  that  of  licentiousness,  cherishing  the  first,  avoid- 
ing the   last,  and  uniting    a  speedy  but  temperate  vigilance 
against  encroachments,  with  an  inviolable  respect  to  the  laAvs. 
"  Whether  this  desirable  object  Avill  be   best   promoted  by 
affording  aids   to   seminaries   of  learning   already  established, 
*  by  the  institution  of  a  national   University,  or  by  any  other 
expedients,  will  be  well  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  deliberations 
of  the  Legislature." 

While  there  may  be  no  proof  of  any  direct  understanding 
as  between  Washington  and  the  projectors  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, in  regard  to  this  important  subject  of  "  knowledge  as  a 
basis  of  public  happiness,"  and  as  a  foundation  of  "  good  gov- 
ernment," and  also  in  regard  to  a  "  national  university,"  yet 
the  coincidence  of  sentiment  can  be  clearly  traced.  The  Ohio 
Company,  through  their  Agent,  had  already  marked  out  the 
line  of  public  policy  that  the  President  here  recommends.] 

Wed.,  January  6,  1790.  News  of  the  death  of  my  sister 
Lee.     Neither  brother  nor  sister  left. 

Mon.,  Jan.  11.  The  Committee  of  the  Parish,  consisting 
of  nine,  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the  four  schools 
in  the  parish  (agreeable  to  an  Act  of  the  General  Court,  passed 
in  their  last  session),  accompanied  me  to  three  of  the  schools. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  453 

We  began  at  the  East  School,  at  nine  in  the  morning.  Visited 
the  South  School  at  eleven  and  the  North  School  in  the  after- 
noon.    Several  of  the  Committee  dined  with  me. 

Tues.,  Jan.  12.  This  afternoon  we  visited  the  West  School, 
and  were  pleased  to  find  them  all  in  a  very  good  state.  The 
scholars  having  been  lately  pretty  well  supplied  with  Webster's 
last  edition  of  the  1st  part  of  his  Graml.  Institute,  we  promise 
ourselves  that  much  greater  progress  will  be  made  than  here- 
tofore. The  several  Masters  and  the  Committee  spent  the 
evening  and  supped  with  me. 

[Dr.  Cutler  had,  from  his  first  settlement  at  Ipswich  Ham- 
let, taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  schools,  and  often  visited 
them  for  the  purpose  of  giving  moral  and  religious  instruc- 
tion. Temple  Cutlei*,  Esq.,  mentions  in  his  reminiscences  that 
even  before  the  law  required  so  strict  inquiry  respecting 
the  qualifications  of  schoolmasters,  as  chairman  of  the  school 
committee,  Dr.  Cutler  instituted  a  critical  examination  as  to 
to  their  acquirements  and  ability  to  teach,  not  hesitating  to  re- 
ject such  as  were  found  wanting.  He  looked  carefully  into 
the  character  of  the  books  used  in  the  schools,  and  exacted 
of  the  teachers  particular  attention  to  the  rudiments,  and 
thorough  teaching  in  the  foundation  studies.  He  personally 
examined  the  scholars,  whose  interest  in  their  studies  was  thus 
greatly  stimulated,  and  the  co-operation  of  parents,  who  were 
invited  to  be  present,  was  also  secured.  So  much  were  his 
methods  approved,  that  he  was  often  requested  to  visit  other 
towns  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  his  mode  of  examination. 

These  semi-annual  school  visitations,  which  occupied  two 
days,  became  quite  a  social  event;  each  committeeman,  in 
turn,  entertaining  the  members  of  the  school  board  at  his 
house,  and  at  the  close  the  committee  and  all  the  teachers 
were  usually  invited  to  take  supper  and  spend  the  evening 
with  Dr.  Cutler,  who  knew  well  how  to  make  it  a  season  of 
delightful  and  profitable  social  intercourse.] 

Mon.,  Feb.  8.     Preparing  for  New  York. 

Lord's  Dai/,  Feb.  14.  (In  Boston.)  Preached  a.  m.  for 
Mr.  Everett ;  p.  m.  for  Mr.  Belknap. 

Mon.,  Feb.  15.  Left  Boston  for  New  York  in  •the  stage,  Mr. 
Pease  in  company. 


454  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Lord's  Day,  Feb.  21.  Set  out  early,  and  arrived  at  New 
York  at  one  o'clock.  Took  lodgings  at  Mrs.  Wheaton's,  near 
St.  George's  Chapel,  No.  11,  where  I  found  General  Putnam 
and  Mr.  Reed. 

Mon.,  Feb.  22.  Called  on  a  number  of  my  friends.  Deliv- 
ered letters.  Attended  debates  in  Congress,  very  much  en- 
tertained. The  Hall  appears  superb.  After  dinner  waited 
on  several  members  of  Congress. 

Tues.,  Feb.  23.  Attended  debates.  Called  on  several 
friends. 

Wed.,  Feb.  24.     Attended  debates.     Called  on  Mr.  Strong. 

TJiurs.,  Feb.  25.  Waited  this  morning  on  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent [Hon.  John  Adams].  Went  up  in  a  Hackney  coach,  and 
spent  an  hour.     Delivered  letters.  • 

Fri.,  Feb.  26.  Invited  to  dine  with  the  Vice-President. 
Mr.  Reed  went  with  me  in  a  Hackney  coach.  Returned  in 
the  evening.  Very  agreeable.  Colonel  Smith  and  lady 
present. 

Sat.,  Feb.  27.  Dined  at  General  Knox's.  A  very  largQ 
company.  Scioto  Company  met  at  Colonel  Duer's.  Just  as 
we  were  seated  we  received  letters  from  BarloAV,  announcing 
the  completion  of  his  contract,  much  as  we  wished. 

Lord's  Bay,  Feb.  28.  At  St.  George's  Chapel  in  the  morn- 
ing. Dr.  Moore  preached,  p.  m.,  at  English  Church.  Mr. 
Linn  preached.  In  the  evening  the  Scioto  Company  met  at 
Mrs.  Francis',  in  Cortland  Street.     Wrote  home. 

Man.,  Mar.  1.  Visited  Mr.  Trumbull's  painting.  Never 
formed  an  idea  of  painting  before. 

Tues.,  Mar.  2.     Dined  with  Mr.  Goodhue. 

Wed.,  Mar.  3.  Supped  at  Mrs.  Francis'.  Wrote  to  Boston 
and  Ipswich. 

Thurs.,  Mar.  4.     Drank  tea  at  Mr.  Ames', 

Fri.,  3Iar.  5.     Drawing  Petitions. 

Sat.,  3Iar.  6.  Dined  with  Captain  Hammond,  Baron  Steuben, 
Mr.  Osgood,  Mr.  Pintard,  etc. 

Lord's  Day,  3Iar.  7.  At  Roman  Catholic  Chapel,  a.  m. 
Dined  at  Mr.  Hazard's,  and  went  to  Presbyterian  New  Brick 
with  Mr.  Hazard.     Drank  tea  at  Mr.  Osgood's. 

Mon.,  3Iar.  8.     Dined  at  Mr.  Henderson's. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  455 

Tues.,  3far.  9.     Dined  at  Mr.  Osgood's. 

Wed.,  Mar.  10.  Dined  at  Mr.  Atkinson's.  A  Frenchman 
from  Barlow.     Wrote  Mrs.  Cutler. 

3Iar.  11,  12.     Attended  Congress. 

Sat.,  3Iar.  13.  Dined  at  Mr.  Pintard's.=i^  Very  large  com- 
pany.    Several  members  of  Congress. 

Lord's  Bay,  3Iar.  14.  a.  m.,  heard  Foster,  the  Baptist, 
from  N.  Mills,  p.  m.,  at  Dr.  Linn's.  Wrote  home  very 
largely  to  Mrs.  Cutler  and  Dr.  Whitney. 

3fo7i.,  3Lar.  15.  Attended  at  the  War  Office.  Drank  tea 
at  Mr.  Gerry's. 

3far.  16,  17,  18.  Attended  at  the  War  Office.  Spent  an 
evening  with  Mr.  Gerry. 

Fri.,  3Iar.  19.  Adjusting  accounts.  Spent  the  evening 
with  members  of  Congress. 

Sat.,  Mar.  20.  Attended  the  Jews'  Synagogue.  Much  en- 
tertained. A  young  gentleman  was  very  complaisant  to  us, 
and  gave  us  much  information. 

Sunday,  Mar.  21.  Attended  the  Moravian  Meeting  in  the 
morning.  Had  organs,  singing — fine.  P.  M.,  we  went  to  Mr. 
Mason's,  a  Seceding  Presbyterian,  in  Little  Queen  Street. 
In  the  evening  at  a  lecture  at  the  Methodist  Meeting — very 


*John  Pintard,  LL.D.,  was  the  founder  of  historical  societies  in  the 
United  States.  By  descent  a  French  Huguenot,  he  was  born  in  New 
York  city  in  1759.  He  graduated  at  the  College  of  New  Jeisey,  1776i 
and  served  as  a  soldier  during  tlie  Revolution.  He  studied  law,  but 
was  never  in  actual  practice.  lie  edited  the  New  York  Daily  Adver- 
tiser for  a  short  time,  then  engaged  in  commerce,  and  failed  in  the 
panic  of  1792.  He  traveled  extensively  in  the  west,  and  studied  the 
history  and  character  of  the  Indians.  He  was  the  first  city  inspector 
of  New  York,  appointed  in  1804;  originated  the  first  savings  bank 
there;  was  prominent  in  the  formation  of  the  American  Bible  Society, 
and  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church; 
and  gave  efficient  aid  to  DeWitt  Clinton  in  his  efforts  to  build  the  Erie 
Canal.  By  correspondence  and  personal  solicitation  he  induced 
Jeremy  Belknap  to  organize  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 
He  was,  himself  conspicuously  the  founder  of  the  New  York  Histori- 
cal Society.  He  died  in  New  York  city,  1844. — See  Drakes  Diclionary 
of  American  Biography ;  and  "  I  Uustrated  Chapter  of  Beginnings"  by  Mrs. 
Martha  J.  Lamb,  Magazine  of  American  History,  September,  1886. 


456  Lif^  of  Rev.  Mana^seh  Cutler. 

extixivagant.  Wrote  to  Mr.  Everett,  of  Boston,  Dr.  Whitney, 
and  Mrs.  Cutler. 

3Io7i.,  Mar.  22.     Mr.  Austin  came  to  our  lodgings. 

3Iarch  23,  24.     At  War  Office. 

Thurs.,  Mar.  25.  The  new  Trinity  Church  was  dedicated 
by  the  Bishop.  Vast  concourse.  Mr.  Beach  preached  a  very 
fine  sermon. 

Fri.,  Mar.  26.  Attended  Congress.  Mr.  Austin  went  to 
Connecticut. 

Sat.,  Mar.  27.  Went  to  Elizabeth  Town  in  a  pirogue. 
Rather  dull  passage. 

Lord's  Day,  3Iar.  28.  Preached  for  Mr.  Austin.  Married 
a  couple  in  the  evening.  Attended  a  lecture  at  the  Episco- 
palian Church — more  zeal  than  knowledge.  Wrote  to  Dr. 
Whitney,  Mr.  Dodge,  Major  Burnham,*  and  Mrs.  Cutler. 

3Ion.,  3Iar.  29.  Returned.  A  very  long  and  disagreeable 
passage.  John  J.  Dodge,  and  Procter,  from  Muskingum, 
came  over  with  me. 

Tues.,  Mar.  30.     Wrote  home  by  Dodge. 

Wed.,  31ar.  31.  At  the  War  Office  from  nine  in  the  morn- 
ing to  three.     Concluded  most  of  my  business  there. 

April  1.     At  War  Office. 

Apr.  2.     Attended  Congress. 

Apr.  3.     Received  letters  from  home. 

Lord's  Day,  Apr.  4.     Attended   the   New  Trinity  Church. 


*  Major  Jolin  Burnham  was  born  in  Ipswich,  Massachusetts,  1749; 
died  at  Derry,  New  Hampsliire,  IS43.  In  the  War  of  the  Revolution 
he  served  as  a  Lieutenant  in  Little's  regiment,  Captain  in  the  Eighth 
Massachusetts,  and  Major.  He  was  present  at  th^  battles  of  Bunker 
Hill,  Long  Island,  Trenton,  Saratoga,  Monmouth,  Stony  Point,  and 
Yorktown.  The  company  he  commanded  in  the  Eighth  Massachusetts 
was.  in  I78"J,  complimented  in  general  orders  by  (icneral  Washington, 
in  these  words:  "  The  Commander-in-Chief  did  not  think  he  ever  saw 
a  company  under  arms  make  a  more  soldier-like  and  military  appear- 
ance." In  1790,  Major  Burnham  enlisted  a  company,  took  it  to  Ohio, 
and,  in  the  employ  of  the  Scioto  Associates,  cleared  the  land  where 
Gallipolis  is  located,  and  built  the  houses  first  occupied  by  the  French 
emigrants  who  settled  there.  lie  returned  to  New  England  in  1791; 
settled  in  New  Hampshire  about  1798. — .Set?  CroweUs  History  of  Essex. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  457 

Sacrament  administered  by  the  Bishop.  Very  solemn,  p.  M.; 
attended  at  New  Brick  Church — Dr.  Rogers. 

Mon.,  Apr.  5.  Expected  our  business  to  come  forward,  but 
was  disappointed. 

Tues.,  Apr.  6.     At  Piatt's  Office. 

Wed.,  Apr.  7.     At  Congress — nothing  done. 

Thurs.,  Apr.  8.     At  Piatt's. 

Fri.,  Apr.  9.     At  Congress. 

8at.,  Apr.  10.  Dined  at  Colonel  Duer's.  Letter  from  Mrs. 
Cutler  ;  wrote  to  her. 

Lord's  Day.,  Apr.  11.  At  the  Old  Low  Dutch  Church  in 
the  morning.  The  Parson  preached  in  Dutch ;  a  fine  orator. 
Afternoon,  rained. 

Mon.,  Apr.  12.     Congress  negatived  the  Assumption  bill. 

Tiies.,  Apr.  13.     Busy  on  Ohio  matters. 

April  14,  15,  16.     Busy  at  home. 

Sat.,  April  17.     At  Duer's. 

Suiidajj,  Apr.  18.  Very  stormy.  Snow  fell  two  or  three 
inches  deep,  then  hard  rain.  Attended  meeting  at  the  High 
Dutch  Church,  in  Nassau  Street ;  very  thin.  Preacher,  a 
Dutchman,  preached  in  Dutch. 

April  19.     Very  busy  at  the  War  Office. 

Tues.,  Apr.  20.     At  Piatt's. 

Wed.,  Apr.  21.  Very  busy  settling  Ohio  Company  ac- 
counts. 

Thurs.,  Apr.  22.     At  Piatt's. 

Fri.,  Apr.  23.  Finished  my  business,  much  to  my  mind- 
Left  New  York  at  3  o'clock  in  the  Providence  Packet,  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  Reed,  of  Salem.     Fine  wind  and  weather. 

Mon.,  Apr.  26.  Came  on  to  Boston.  Mr.  Reed  and  I  took 
a  chaise  at  Charlestown,  and  came  home.  Arrived  at  Ipswich 
about  sunset. 

Mon.,  May  17.  Visited  sick.  Attended  the  funeral  of 
Mr.  Tappan,  at  Manchester.     Was  one  of  the  bearers. 

Tues.,  May  25.  Went  to  Boston  this  morning,  and  at- 
tended the  meeting  of  the  Academy.  Dined  at  Mr.  Bowdoin's, 
and  lodged  at  Mr.  Everett's. 

Wed.,  May  26.     Election.     Attended  the   exercise   at  the 


458  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Old    Brick,      A  Mr.  Foster   preached.     Was    to  have   dined 
again  at  Mr.  Bowdoin's,  but  business  prevented. 

[To  Rev.  Oliver  Everett/^'] 

New  York,  Feb.  24,  1790. 

3Iy  Dear  Sir : — I  arrived  in  this  city  on  Sunday;  on  Mon- 
day attended  the  debates  in  Congress.  The  most  of  last  week 
was  taken  up  with  a  very  unexpected  motion  from  Mr.  Madi- 
son, for  making  a  discrimination  between  original  holders  and 
purchasers  of  securities.  A  motion  of  this  kind  from  a  mem- 
ber of  less  consequence  than  Mr.  M.  would  have  been  smiled 
at,  but  his  character  gave  it  importance.  The  principal 
speakers  were  engaged  in  the  debates.  I  Avas,  however,  so 
unfortunate  as  to  hear  very  little  from  the  first  characters,  as 
the  subject  was  nearly  exhausted,  and  left  to  the  bickerings  of 
some  of  the  smaller  folks.  On  taking  the  question  Mr.  M. 
had  the  mortification,  which  he  appeared  sensibly  to  feel,  to  be 
in  a  minority — only  13  for  the  motion.  The  next  question 
was  the  funding  the  domestic  debt.  It  was-  contested,  but 
none  of  the  great  characters  arose.  It  passed  in  the  affirma- 
tive by  a  very  great  majority. 

The  next  question,  which  employed  yesterday  and  this  day, 
was  on  the  assumption  of  the  State  Debts.  This  was  held  up 
as  a  most  important  question,  involving  in  it  the  whole  sys- 
tem of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  in  its  consequences 
materially  affecting  the  very  existence  of  the  Union.  All  the 
great  characters  were  engaged,  and  much  ability  and  eloquence 
was  displayed. 

Mr.  Gerry  ably  defended  the  assumption  on  anti-federal 
ground.  His  principal  arguments  were  that  if  the  State 
debts  were  not  assumed,  the  States  being  absolutely  unable, 
at  present,  to  secure  funds  for  the  payment  of  their  debts, 
would  become  less  popular  and  less  important  in  the  view  of 
the  people.  The  State  creditors  would  feel  themselves  in- 
jured, while   they  were  neglected,  and   the  Continental  pro- 

*  "  The  youngest  of  Ebeuezer  Everett's  nine  ohildren  was  Oliver,  born 
in  Dedham,  June  i  1,  1752.  lie  was  the  father  of  Hon.  Edward  Everett,- 
and  grandfatlier  of  Rev.  E.  E.  Hale,  D.D.,  of  Boston,  Mass." — New  Eng- 
land Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  Oct.,  1 887,  jja^e  400. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  459 

vided  for,  and  their  wish  and  exertions  would  be  to  diminish 
the  State  and  exercise  the  Continental  powers.  And  that  if 
the  States  should  ever  find  it  necessary  to  oppose  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  a  heavy  debt  and  the  charge  of  a  violated 
faith  would  fustrate  all  their  attempts.  The  most  violent  and 
clamorous  opposer  of  the  assumption  was  Mr.  Stone,  of  Mary- 
land. Although  the  question  is  not  yet  taken,  there  is  not 
the  smallest  doubt  of  its  being  carried  in  the  aflirmative. 
Just  before  the  Committee  rose  this  afternoon,  there  appeared 
evidently  to  be  a  coalescence  of  parties,  in  consequence  of  an 
amendment  proposed  by  Mr.  Madison,  that  the  credits  as  well 
as  the  debts  of  the  States  should  be  assumed,  and  a  final  set- 
tlement of  accounts,  between  all  the  States  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war,  be  adjusted.  It  is,  however,  not  im- 
probable that  it  may  be  several  days  before  the  question  is 
taken.  If  this  question  passes  in  the  aflirmative,  there  seems 
to  be  little  doubt  of  the  adoption  of  the  whole  system  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 

You  will  do  me  a  particular  favor  by  furnishing  me  with  an 
account  of  the  present  state  of  Gorham  and  Phelps'  pur- 
chase of  the  General  Court.  What  have  the  Court  done  with 
respect  to  it  in  the  present  session  1  Is  there  a  process  now 
against  them  ?  What  is  their  plan  ?  Will  they  attempt  to 
give  up,  or  do  they  choose  to  hold  their  purchase  ?  Is  their 
property  and  that  of  others  concerned  attached?  I  do  not 
make  these  inquiries  from  a  wish  to  interfere  with  them,  but 
only  from  a  probability  that  if  I  was  furnished  with  the  pres- 
ent state  of  their  Purchase  it  may  be  of  some  advantage  in 
securing  the  influence  of  some  members  in  Congress  in  ac- 
complishing our  wishes,  and  without  the  least  detriment  to 
them.  Mr.  Russell  and  many  others  will  be  able  to  give  you 
full  information.  This  request  is  inter  nos,  and  wish  my  name 
may  not  be  mentioned. 

What  has  the  Court  done  respecting  excise  ?  And  what  are 
they  about?  What  will  they  say  to  the  assumption  of  the 
State  debts  ?  Pray,  write  me  by  the  next  post,  or  as  soon  as 
you  can  get  the  above  information  respecting  Gorham's  pur- 
chase. 

I  shall  probably   be   much  longer  in   the  city   than   I  ex- 


460  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

pected  Avhen  I  left  Boston,  and  shall  with  pleasure  inform  you 
of  any  thing  which  I  may  suppose  will  afford  you  any  satis- 
faction. 

My  compliments  to  Mrs.  E.,  Avho,  I  hope,  is  in  agreeable  cir- 
cumstances. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem, 
Dear  sir,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant. 
Rev.  Mr.  Everett.  M.  Cutler. 

[To  Rev.  Oliver  Uverett.'] 

New  York,  Feb,  28,  1790. 

My  Dear  Sir: — Congress  are  still  on  the  question,  whether 
the  State  debts  shall  be  assumed.  In  my  letter  of  Wednesday 
last  I  mentioned  Madison's  amendment. 

On  Thursday  J\lr.  White  moved  a  proviso  to  Madison's 
amendment,  viz  :  "  Provided,  such  assumption  shall  not  ex- 
ceed the  sum  which  any  state  may  have  advanced  above  its 
just  proportion,  as  the  same  shall  appear  upon  its  liquidation." 
This  produced  a  debate,  which  continued  until  just  before  the 
adjournment  on  Friday,  when  the  question  on  this  amend- 
ment was  taken,  and  passed  in  the  negative.  During  these 
debates  there  appeared  to  be  some  changes  in  the  opinion  of 
members  respecting  the  question  of  assumption,  which  ren- 
dered it  more  difficult  to  form  a  judgment  how  it  would  is- 
sue. When  White's  motion  was  negatived  (which  seemed  to 
have  been  originally  intended  to  embarrass,  and,  if  possible, 
prevent  the  assumption),  Madison  moved  an  amendment  to 
his  own,  which  was  long,  but  found  to  contain  in  substance  no 
more,  than  that  there  should  be  a  liquidation  of  accounts  with 
the  States,  within  a  certain  period  of  time,  should  be  made  on 
the  principle  of  enumeration,  making  that  the  rule  of  adjust- 
ment. This  amendment  will  probably  take  up  much  more 
time,  and  postpone  the  general  question.  Some  gentlemen 
say  Madison  is  in  fact  opposed  to  assumption  ;  others  that  he 
has  only  in  view  a  particular  modification  in  favor  of  his  own 
State.  I  must  confess  it  appears  to  me  somewhat  problematical, 
but,  on  the  whole,  I  think  he  is  in  favor.  Our  members,  I  be- 
lieve, are  all  in  favor,  except  Grant,  who,  I  observed,  has  taken 
care  to  be  wrong  on  evei-y  question  taken  in  Congress  since  I 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler  461 

have  attended  the  debates.  Several  of  them  have  made  great 
exertions.  Sedgwick  and  Goodhue  have  distinguished  them- 
selves, but  Gerry  has  gone  beyond  them,  in  displaying  a  clear 
and  extensive  knowledge  of  the  subject,  and  tracing  the  prob- 
able consequences.  He  has  certainly  done  himself  much 
credit  in  the  view  of  the  Federalists.  Ames  has  not  said 
much  in  the  House,  but  I  believe  has  been  very  active  abroad. 
Indeed,  at  this  stage  of  the  business,  I  believe  the  friends  to 
the  assumption  depend  more  on  management  out  of  doors  than 
within,  and  I  believe,  firmly,  will  out-general  their  opponents. 
Many  of  the  speeches  in  the  House  have  been  truly  Cice- 
ronian, but  some  of  them  far  below  par ;  the  latter  description 
of  speeches  are  put  into  the  hands  of  some  pretty  able  cobbler 
to  mend,  before  they  go  to  the  press,  which  will  account  for  that 
tolerably  decent  appearance  they  make  in  the  papers.  As  the 
mail  will  be  closed  in  a  few  minutes  I  must  desist.  I  hes. 
leave  to  assure  you  that  I  am,  with  sincere  esteem, 

Dear  sir,  your  most  obedient, 

M.  Cutler. 
[To  Rev.  Mr.  Everett.} 

New  York,  March  21,  1790. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I  sincerely  thank  you  for  your  kind  favor 
of  the  6th  instant,  received  by  the  last  mail.  I  fear  that  I 
have  been  troublesome  in  requesting  the  particular  informa- 
tion respecting  G.'s  purchase.  When  I  wrote  you,  our  busi- 
ness was  in  a  train  that  rendered  it  probable  such  information 
might  be  useful,  but  it  has  since  taken  a  different  turn.  Our 
object  is  to  obtain  a  reduction  of  the  price  we  were  to 
give  for  the  land.  We  have  not  yet  applied  to  Congress, 
but  we  have  reason  to  believe  we  shall  succeed  to  our  utmost 
wishes. 

Our  time  has  been  employed  in  securing  the  interest  of  the 
members,  by  stating  to  them,  at  their  private  lodgings,  the 
principles  and  facts  on  which  we  shall  found  our  petition, 
while  we  have  been  waiting  for  Congress  to  fix  the  price  for 
future  sales.  If  we  obtain  our  lands  at  twenty  cents,  of  which 
I  at  present  have  little  doubt,  we  shall  make  a  saving  to  the 
Company  of  piore  than  $500,000,  and  in  the  same  proportion 
increase  the  value  of  the  shares. 


462  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

Mr.  M s  has  disgusted  many  of  his  friends  by  takinf:r  a 

part  different   from   their  expectations  in  almost   every  ques- 
tion on  the  Secretary's  report.     His  enemies  charge  him  with 
duplicity,  some  with   dishonesty.     It  is   said   that  he  at  first 
appeared   to   be   pleased  with  the  system  ;  that  he  repeatedly 
intimated   to   H-l-n  his   approbation,  and   suggested  that  he 
should   support  it.     However  this   might  be,  he   has   not  ap- 
peared to  me  to  favor  the  leading  principles  of  this  system  in 
the  House,  nor  has  he  directly  opposed  them.     But  it  must  be 
acknowdedged  that  he  is  possessed  of  excellent  abilities.     He 
distinguishes   himself  much  in   his   speeches  by  the  accurate 
arrangement  of  his  ideas,  and  in  the  happy  choice  of  words  to 
express  them.     I  must  confess  there  are  few  in  Congress  whose 
air  and   address  is   more  pleasing  to  me,  tho'  he  appears  less 
animated   than  many  others.     His   speeches   are  sentimental, 
and  when  he  descends   to  sophistical  reasoning,  which  he  has 
lately  often   done,  he   manages  it  with   great   art.     To  me  he 
appears  to  be  possessed  of  much  art,  exceedingly  local  in  his 
views  of  national  objects,  and  disposed  to  sacrifice  every  thing 
to  what  he  conceives  to  be  for  the  interest  or  Avould  be  grati- 
fying to   his  constituents.     His  talent  at  artful  management 
has  been  amply  displayed  in  the  opposition  that  has  been  made 
to  the  assumption.     For  it  has  been  made  against  the  clearest 
and  most  forcible  reasoning,  as  well  as  every  principle  of  jus- 
tice, honor,  and   sound   policy.     There   has  been   no  occasion 
that  has  brought  forth  the  whole  ability  of  Congress  so  clearly 
as  in  discussing  this  question,  and  it  is  so  very  clear  that  the 
fairest  reasoners  and  the  best  politicians  have  been  on  the  af- 
firmative side  of  it.     Mr.  M s  may  plume  himself  on  the 

numbers  that  have  been  with  him,  but  I  am  sure  he  can  not  be 
pleased  with  his  company. 

You  have  seen  by  the  papers  that  the  Committee  of  the 
whole  House  on  the  Secretary's  report  have  made  their  report 
to  the  House,  but  the  assumption  will  undoubtedly  meet  with 
another  severe  combat.  It  was  expected  that  the  report  would 
have  been  taken  up  by  the  House  last  week,  but  the  co7is  are 
endeavoring  to  keep  it  off  until  the  arrival  of  the  N.  Carolina 
members,  who,  it  is  supposed  will  all  be  against  it ;  the  pros 
have  been  afraid  to  bring  it  forward  until  the  return  of  several 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  463 

members  on  their  side  the  question,  who  are  now  absent,  but 
are  expected  in  the  course  of  the  present  Aveek.  There  is  yet 
some  ground  to  fear  whether  the  assumption  passes  this  ses- 
sion, though  most  of  the  friends  of  this  measure  are  pretty 
sanguine  that  it  will  be  adopted.  They  view  it  as  the  Key- 
Stone  to  the  present  Government,  and  will  never  give  up  the 
object  while  they  are  members  of  the  House. 

It  has  not  been  in  contemplation  to  fix  the  interest  of  the 
national  debt  lower  than  four  per  cent.  I  believe  all  who  are 
not  for  four  are  for  six  per  cent.  It  indeed  seems  to  be  a  pre- 
vailing wish  of  the  House  to  fund  the  debt  in  such  a  mode  as 
will  approach  as  near  to  six  per  cent  as  the  present  state  of 
the  country  will  admit.  But  at  whatever  rate  interest  is  fixed, 
at  least,  if  it  is  above  three  per  cent,  foreigners  will  speculate 
in  our  funds ;  and  if  this  is  an  evil,  which  I  am  upon  the 
whole  inclined  to  doubt,  the  higher  the  interest,  the  greater 
will  be  the  evil.  Probability  of  the  transfer  of  a  great  part 
of  our  domestic  debt  to  foreigners  has  been  much  talked  of  in 
Congress,  but  the  result  seems  to  have  been,  by  a  pretty  gen- 
eral agreement,  that  Congress  have  it  not  in  their  power  to 
guard  against  foreign  speculation,  and  that  they  ought  to  pay 
no  regard  to  this  matter  in  their  establishment  of  a  funding 
system. 

It  is  mortifying  to  see  so  many,  as  there  appears  to  be,  in 
our  national  legislature  who  pay  little  regard  to  national 
honor  or  credit,  but  I  am  persuaded  there  is  a  respectable  ma- 
jority who  pay  a  proper  attention  to  these  great  objects. 
Some  acts  may  possibly  pass  derogatory  to  a  national  char- 
acter which  ought  to  be  immediately  established.  Yet  I  think 
the  honor  and  credit  of  this  country  will  be  pretty  well  sup- 
ported during  the  existence  of  the  present  Congress. 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  mentioned  several  other  matters 
when  I  sat  down  to  write,  but  I  have  been  much  interrupted 
by  a  room  full  of  company,  and  the  hour  is  now  arrived  (8 
o'clock)  at  which  the  mail  closes,  and  I  can  only  add  that  I 
am,  with  sincere  afi"ection,  dear  sir. 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

M.  Cutler. 


464  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

\From  General  Puinani^ 

Boston,  August  12,  1790. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I  wrote  you  from  Rutland  last  week,  and 
forwarded  my  letter  by  mail,  in  which  I  requested  you  to  meet 
me  here  yesterday,  but,  as  I  see  you  not,  conclude  you  did 
not  receive  my  letter  in  season.  I  expect  to  set  out  with  my 
family  the  week  after  next  for  Muskingum,  and  the  hurry  that 
I  am  in  to  prepare  for  the  voyage  renders  it  impossible  to 
come  to  Ipswich,  though  I  want  much  to  see  you  before  I  go 
again  to  the  Western  Country. 

Our  old  Commission  to  transact  business  on  the  east  of  the 
Mountains  is  considered  by  the  Directors  at  Muskingum  as  at 
an  end,  and,  as  there  was  no  prospect  that  Congress  would 
settle  the  price  of  western  lands  in  time  to  apply  this  session, 
nor  who  could  best  attend  from  that  quarter  next  winter,  it 
was  agreed  to  let  the  matter  rest  for  the  present.  It  is  ex- 
pected that  Sargent  will  return  to  Muskingum  next  October, 
and  not  before.  I  shall  do  my  endeavor  that  he  be  joined 
Avith  you  to  complete  the  contract  with  Congress.  And  per- 
haps Green  or  Oliver  will  also  come  on  as  soon  as  matters  are 
ripe  for  us  to  apply.  At  any  rate,  I  will  endeavor  that  you 
have  seasonable  notice  of  what  measures  are  adopted,  as  well 
as  the  time  when  to  meet  there  on  the  business. 

I  hope  you  are  making  your  arrangements  (at  least,  in  your 
mind)  to  come  to  Muskingum  as  soon  as  our  contract  is  com- 
pleted. Your  company  is  much  wished  for  by  the  best  peo- 
ple, and  I  believe  you  will  hear  no  more  clamor  about  the 
Scioto  purchase.  I  have  many  things  to  say,  could  I  see  you. 
Pray  come  to  Rutland  next  Aveek,  if  you  can. 

I  am,  sir,  yours, 
With  every  possible  sentiment  of  respect, 

Mr.  Cutler.  Rupus  Putnam. 

Jan.  4-7,  1791.  Engaged  in  preparing  a  paper  on  the  An- 
cient Ruins  in  America. 

Jan.  26,  Wed.  Attended  the  meeting  of  the  American 
Academy.  We  Avalked  in  procession  from  the  Hall  of  the 
Bank  to  Mr.  Thatcher's  Meeting  House,  Avhere  the  Hon.  Mr. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  465 

Lowell  delivered  a  most  elegant  oration  in  honor  of  our  late 
President,  Governor  Bowdoin.  Very  full  assembly.  We  re- 
turned in  procession.  Dined  at  Dr.  Dexter's.  Drank  tea  at 
Mrs.  Bowdoin's.  Spent  the  evening  and  lodged  at  Mr.  Ev- 
verett's,  Boston. 

Jan.  27,  Thurs.  Dined  at  Mr.  Burley's.  Did  business. 
Attended  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Ohio  Company 
at  the  Bunch  of  Grapes. 

Jan.  28,  Fri.  Paid  Mr.  Dudley  Hubbard  the  whole  for  the 
place  I  bought  of  the  heirs  of  his  late  father.  Dined  at  Mr. 
Barrel's,  and  came  home. 

Feb.  18,  Tues.  Spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Samuel  Whip- 
ple's, when  Colonel  Dodge,  Captain  Whipple,  Mr.  Joseph  Po- 
land, and  Lieutenant  John  Dodge  were  sworn  as  Commission- 
ers of  Sewers,  in  consequence  of  a  Commission  I  obtained 
from  the  Governor  for  clearing  Miles  River. 

Feb.  23,  Wed.     Met  with  the  Commissioners  of  Sewers. 

3Iar.  9,  Wed.     A  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  river. 

[Miles  River  was  a  very  sluggish  stream,  flowing  from 
Wenham  Lake  into  Ipswich  River,  through  a  part  of  Wenham, 
Hamilton,  and  Ipswich.  By  its  annual  overflow,  it  rendered 
unproductive  a  large  portion  of  the  adjoining  meadow  lands, 
which  only  yielded  a  coarse,  inferior  grass.  A  part  of  the 
Hubbard  farm,  lately  purchased  by  Dr.  Cutler,  was  subject  to 
these  inundations,  and  he  suggested  to  the  other  owners  of 
meadows  on  the  borders  of  this  stream  the  expediency  of  open- 
ing and  clearing  out  the  obstructions  to  the  river,  the  expense 
to  be  met  by  a  tax  upon  these  lands. 

He  succeeded  in  convincing  a  majority  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  utility  of  the  plan.  They  united  Avith  him  in  a  peti- 
tion to  the  authorities  for  a  Commission,  with  leave  to  make 
the  needed  improvements  ;  and,  although  a  counter-memorial 
was  presented,  Governor  Hancock  and  his  Council  granted  the 
petition.  This  resulted  in  the  reclaiming,  to  the  great  advan- 
tage of  the  owners,  of  hundreds  of  acres,  which  have  now  be- 
come very  valuable  meadow  lands.] 

3Iur.  15,  Tues.     Parish  meeting.     I  went  to   town  to  meet 
with  the  committee  appointed  by  the  proprietors  of  the  Ips- 
30 


466  Life  of  Rev.  ManasseJi  Cutler. 

wich  Social  Library,  to  draw  ujd  Articles  of  Agreement  and 
Regulations  for  the  Company.  We  met  at  Esquire  Cheat's. 
Present:  Hon.  Stephen  Cheat,  Esq.,  Mr.  Dana,  Mr.  Frisbie, 
Esq.  Noyes,  and  myself. 

Mar.  22,  Tiies.  Messrs.  Dana  and  Frisbie  here,  as  a  sub- 
committee with  myself,  for  forming  a  constitution  and  articles 
for  the  Library  Company. 

Mar.  23,  Wed.  Went  to  town  and  met  Avitli  the  Library 
Committee  at  Mr.  Noj^es'. 

AjJr.  3,  Lord's  Day.  A  most  beautiful  Annular  Eclipse  of 
the  Sun  this  morning,  which  began  just  after  sunrise  and 
ended  after  8  o'clock.  The  appearance  was  fine,  although  I 
had  only  a  common  spy-glass,  as  the  atmosphere  was  in  an  un- 
commonly fine  state.  Tho'  rainy  yesterday,  the  wind  shifted 
to  the  N.  W.,  and  had  cleared  the  air  from  the  smallest  ap- 
pearance of  vapor.  Nearly  calm  while  the  eclipse  lasted,  but 
the  wind  very  high  the  most  of  the  day.     Preached. 

Apr.  21,  Thurs.  My  barn  was  moved  from  the  Hubbard 
house  round  the  north  end  of  the  Meeting  House  to  my  other 
barn.  Began  to  move  it  at  8  o'clock,  and  had  it  completely 
placed  on  the  spot,  without  any  accident  or  injury  to  the 
building,  iDy  one  o'clock.  We  had  about  ninety  yoke  of  oxen, 
but  they  were  not  all  put  in  the  strings  for  hauling  the  barn. 
Dined  about  200  persons.  The  whole  parish  was  invited,  and 
generally  attended. 

Ajir.  26,  Tues.  Attended  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
Ipswich  Social  Library. 

May  24,  Tues.  Went  this  morning  to  Cambridge,  and  then 
to  Boston.  Attended  the  meeting  of  the  Academy.  Dined 
at  Esquire  Storer's. 

3Iay  25,  Wed.  Election.  A  fine  sermon.  The  Governor 
gave  a  public  dinner  to  the  Clergy,  and  a  great  number  of 
others,  nearly  300,  at  Faneuil  Hall.  A  very  fine  entertainment ; 
escorted  by  the  Fusiliers.  Attended  Convention.  Went  to 
Mr.  Everett's  with  Mr.  Chickering,  and  spent  the  night  very 
agreeably. 

June  1,  Wed.  Attended  the  annual  meeting  of  our  Philo- 
sophical Library  Company  at  Mr.  Piince's. 

June  7,  Tues.     Went  to  Nahant,  in  Lynn,  in  company  with 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  467 

Messrs.  Prince,  Barnard,  and  McKeen,  where  we  met  Mr. 
Belknap  and  Mr.  Everett,  of  Boston,  on  a  philosophical  visit 
to  the  Swallow  House,  or  cave  in  the  rocks  on  the  sea-shore. 
Among  other  curiosities  we  found  the  Sea-anemone,  or  ani- 
mal plant,  in  great  perfection  and  of  a  large  size.  Killed  sev- 
eral kinds  of  birds,  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  them  in  Natural 
History.     A  very  agreeable  day. 

June  12,  Lord^s  Day.  (At  Providence.)  Preached  for  Dr. 
Hitchcock.  A  very  handsome  congregation.  Wore  my  black 
gown  and  cassock  for  the  first  time. 

Mon.,  June  13.  We  rode  about,  and  out  of  town.  Dined 
with  Governor  Bowen.  Attended  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors 
of  the  Ohio  Company,  and  gave  them  an  account  of  the  state 
of  the  Company's  affairs,  which  appeared  to  be  satisfactory. 

July  7,  Thurs.  Mrs.  C.  and  I  went  to  Salem  very  early,  and 
Mr.  Prince  and  I  went  to  Nahant.  Met  Mr.  Barrel  and  son, 
and  Messrs.  Belknap  and  Clark  from  Boston.  Found  a  great 
number  of  the  sea-anemone  in  the  Swallow  House. 

Aug.  2-6.  Notified  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the 
Ohio  Company  to  meet  at  the  Bunch  of  Grapes  on  the  10th 
instant.     Busy  about  Ohio  matters. 

Aug.  10.,  Wed.  (In  Boston.)  Dined  with  Mr.  Barrel.  At- 
tended a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  at  the  Bunch  of  Grapes. 
They  appointed  me  to  go  on  to  Philadelphia  and  settle  all  their 
accounts. 

Sept.  5-7.  Preparing  specimens  of  plants  and  Catalogue  of 
animals.     Sent  specimens  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg. 

Sept.  8-10.  Finished  Catalogue  of  animals,  and  sent  it  to 
Brother  Belknap  for  his  History.* 

Oct.  11,  Tues.  (At  Beverly.)  Observed  the  eclipse  of  the 
Moon.     A  very  fine  observation.     Several  gentlemen  present. 

JSfov.  8,  Tues.  The  Proprietors  of  the  Philosophical  Li- 
brary agreed  to  take  the  American  edition  of  the  Encylopsedia. 
I  received  the  first  volume. 

Dec.  9,  Fri.  A  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Ipswich 
Local  Library.     Adjusted  the   order   of  drawing.     I  came  up 

*This  list  of  animals  is  in  ('hapter  X.  of  Volume  III.,  Belknap's 
History  of  New  Hampshire. 


468  Life  of  Rev.  3fanasseh  Cutler. 

the  4th  on  the  list,  and   took   out   Goldsmith's   Animated  Na- 
ture. 

SEA-ANEMONE. 

This  account  of  the  Sea-anemone  is  found  among  Dr.  Cut- 
ler's papers  : 

The  Sea-anemones  are  a  most  singular  species  of  animals, 
approaching  nearly,  if  not  nearest,  to  the  connecting  link  be- 
tween the  animate  and  inanimate  creation.  We  have  had  no 
account  of  the  discovery  of  the  Sea-anemone  on  the  American 
shores  until  the  year  1791.  In  the  month  of  June  Dr.  Cutler, 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  of  Salem,  in  company  with  several 
other  gentlemen,  visited  the  cavern  in  the  rocks  on  the  south- 
.ei'n  side  of  Nahant,  in  Lynn,  called  the  Swallow-house,  for 
the  purpose  of  searching  for  them.  At  the  bottom  of  the 
cavern,  after  the  tide  had  receded,  they  found  great  numbers, 
of  diiferent  sizes,  and  a  great  variety  of  colors. 

The  general  form  of  this  singular  animal,  Avhen  moderately 
contracted,  is  nearly  like  that  of  a  truncated  cone,  with  its 
base  adhering  to  the  rocks,  but  it  has  the  power  of  assum- 
ing a  variety  of  shapes.  The  position  in  which  some  of  them 
appeared  resembled  a  full-blown  anemone  ;  others  approached 
nearer  to  the  flower  of  a  large  rose  or  poppy,  and  some  were 
extended  in  an  oblique  direction,  with  the  leaves  so  much 
contrac|;ed  as  to  exhibit  only  their  margin  in  the  form  of  a 
fringe. 

When  the  arms  or  leaves  of  the  larger  ones  were  fully  dis- 
played they  measured  five  and  six  inches  in  circumference,  ex- 
hibiting a  great  variety  and  brilliancy  of  colors.  Some  were 
of  the  purest  Avhite,  some  of  the  most  delicate  flesh  color,  others 
tinged  with  purple,  green,  and  violet,  and  still  others  shaded 
and  variegated  with  the  finest  brown  or  black.  On  touching 
the  arms,  or  leaves,  they  instantly  contract.  By  expanding 
and  contracting  the  leaves,  they  collect  and  convey  food  to 
their  mouths,  which  are  placed  in  the  center  of  the  blossom. 
On  offering  them  bits  of  muscles,  they  directly  seized  them 
with  their  arms,  conducted  them  to  their  mouths,  and  swallowed 
them.  If  pieces  of  shells  adhering  to  the  muscle,  or  if  small 
muscles  were  given  them,  the  shells  were  afterward  discharged 
by  the  mouth. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  469 

The  Sea-anemone  is  said  to  be  viviparous.  It  has  also  the 
power  of  reproduction.  If  the  arms  are  clipped  off,  they  will 
bud  and  grow  to  the  usual  size.  And  the  Abbe  Dicquemare 
has  shown  by  a  course  of  experiments  that,  like  Polype,  it 
may  be  multiplied  by  shreds  clipped  from  the  animal.  These 
Anemones  have  a  progressive  motion  ;  moving,  but  extremely 
slow.  Mr.  Joseph  Barrel,  of  Charlestown,  who  with  several 
other  gentlemen  was  there  at  the  same  time,  carried  home 
a  pebble  on  which  an  anemone  had  attached  itself,  and  pre- 
served it  several  months  in  sea  water.  It  disengaged  itself 
from  the  stone  and  moved  about  the  vessel  in  which  he  had 
placed  it.     It  has  been  classed  among  the  Zoophytes. 


470  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

Directors'  Petition  to  Congrkss — Report  of  Committee — Act  Conveying 
Lands  to  Ohio  Company — Letters  to  Mrs.  Cutler — Diary,  1793. 

Of  the  years  from  1791  to  1800,  some  of  the  interleaved 
Almanacs  are  not  found.  Those  which  remain,  with  letters 
written  during  this  period,  and  other  documents,  show  some- 
thing of  the  busy  life  which  Dr.  Cutler  led.  Of  the  year 
1792  he  states,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Muhlenburg,  that :  "  The 
concerns  of  the  Ohio  Company  have  unavoidably  occupied  all 
my  time  for  a  year  past,  except  an  attention  to  such  parochial 
duties  as  could  not  be  dispensed  with."  Four  months  in  the 
eaidier  part  of  the  year  he  was  in  Philadelphia,  with  two  other 
Directors,  General  Rufus  Putnam  and  Colonel  Robert  Oliver, 
endeavoring  to  procure  from  Congress  an  adjustment  of  the 
affairs  of  the  Company.  They  sought  to  obtain  a  reduction 
in  the  price  of  the  lands  contracted  for,  to  correspond  Avith 
that  at  which  Congress  proposed  to  place  other  western  lands 
in  the  market ;  and  they  particularly  desired  to  secure  deeds 
of  that  part  of  the  purchase  for  which  they  had  already  paid. 
The  Indian  war,  and  the  advance  in  the  value  of  securities,  to 
which  was  now  added  the  failure  of  the  treasurer,  at  New 
York,  for  a  large  amount  of  Company  funds,  were  elements 
that  greatly  complicated  the  difficulties  under  which  they 
labored.  The  Almanac  for  1792  is  missing,  but  the  fol- 
lowing documents  and  letters  relating  to  the  business  will  show 
the  action  of  the  Directors  and  of  Congress  in  the  premises. 

While  in  Philadelphia  at  this  time.  Dr.  Cutler  was  brought 
into  pleasant  social  contact  with  President  Washington,  Vice- 


*  Colonel  Robert  Oliver  served  with  credit  during  the  Revolution,  at- 
taining the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Tenth  Massachusetts 
and  Brevet  Colonel.  He  came  to  Marietta,  Ohio.,  1788.  After  the  death 
of  General  Parsons,  1789,  he  was  chosen  a  director  in  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany. He  was  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas,  and  in  1800  President  of 
the  Territorial  Council.     He  died  at  Marietta,  1810. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  471 

President  Adams,  General  Knox,  then  Secretary  of  War,  and 
their  families,  with  many  other  distinguished  people. 

To  THE  Honorable  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives OF  THE  United  States  of  America. 

The  memorial  and  petition  of  the  subscribers,  Directors  of  the 
Ohio  Company  of  Associates,  so  called,  most  respectfully 
sheiveth  : 

That,  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
three,  a  certain  number  of  the  officers  of  the  late  army,  con- 
sulting the  interest  of  the  United  States,  as  well  as  their  own, 
preferred  a  petition  to  Congress,  praying  that  their  Bounty 
Lands,  and  also  the  Bounty  Lands  of  other  officers  and  soldiers 
who  chose  to  take  their  lands  in  the  same  quarter,  might 
be  located  between  the  Ohio  River  and  Lake  Erie ;  and 
that  they  might  be  permitted  to  purchase  additional  quan- 
tities with  the  certificates  they  had  received  for  theii-  services. 
That  the  advantages  which  would  result  to  government  from  a 
settlement  made  in  that  part  of  the  country,  were  particularly 
stated  to  Congress  in  a  letter  from  the  then  Commander-in- 
Chief,  as  Avell  as  in  other  papers  accompanying  the  said  peti- 
tion. That,  although  the  Land  Ordinance,  passed  in  the 
year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-five,  did  not 
comport  with  the  expectations  of  these  petitioners,  as  in  their 
opinion  the  price  was  too  high,  and  the  mode  of  sale  such  as 
rendered  it  impracticable  to  form  a  compact  and  defensible 
settlement,  which  discouraged  many  from  further  prosecuting 
this  object ;  yet,  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-six,  the  Principal  Leaders  in  the  first  petition  promoted 
an  Association,  under  the  name  of  the  Ohio  Company,  which 
contemplated  the  raising  of  one  million  of  dollars,  for  the  ex- 
press design  of  purchasing  lands,  and  promoting  a  settlement 
in  the  Territory  north-west  of  the  Ohio  River.  That,  having 
formed  this  Association,  the  late  Samuel  Holden  Parsons, 
Esquire,  made  application  to  Congress  for  the  sale  of  lands  to 
the  Company ;  and  Congress,  by  their  resolves  of  the  23d  and 
27th  of  July,  in  the  same  year,  empowered  the  Board  of 
Treasury  to  dispose  of  certain  lands  therein  described,  the 
price  to  be  not  less  than  one  dollar  per  acre,  liable  to  a  reduc- 


472  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

tion  by  an  allowance  for  bad  lands ;  and  all  incidental  charges 
and  allowances  whatsoever  not  to  exceed  one-third  of  a  dollar 
per  acre.  In  consequence  of  which  indentures  were  executed, 
on  the  27th  day  of  October  following,  "  between  Samuel  Os- 
good, Walter  Livingston,  and  Arthur  Lee,  Esquires,  of  the 
Board  of  Treasury  of  the  Lnited  States,  of  the  one  part,  and 
Manasseh  Cutler  and  AVinthrop  Sargent,  as  agents  for  the  Di- 
rectors of  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates,  so  called,  on  the 
other  part,  whereby  the  said  parties  of  the  first  part,  for  and 
in  the  consideration  of  the  sum  of  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  paid  into  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  by  the 
said  parties  of  the  second  part,  the  receipt  whereof  the  said 
Board  of  Treasury  "  did  "  acknowledge  before  the  ensealing 
and  delivery  of  the  said  Indentures,"  did  covenant  to  sell,  and 
that  the  United  States  should  convey  to  the  said  company  of 
associates,  one  million  and  a  half  acres  of  land ;  and  the  par- 
ties of  the  second  part  further  stipulated  that  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars  more  should  be  paid  after  the  outlines  of  the 
tract  had  been  surveyed.  The  said  contract  further  provided, 
"  That  the  said  Ohio  Company  of  Associates  should,  if  they 
thought  proper,  immediately  cultivate  a  part  of  said  land  pro- 
portionable to  the  payments  they  have  made,  and  should  have 
full  security  for  the  undisturbed  enjoyment  of  the  same." 

When  the  agents  of  the  Company  first  applied  for  the  pur- 
chase, they  were  fully  sensible  that  the  price  was  much  too 
high,  especially  Avhen  taken  in  connection  with  the  expenses 
and  dangers  which  would  unavoidably  attend  the  first  settle- 
ment, and  much  time  and  pains  were  employed  to  obtain  the 
land  at  a  lower  rate  ;  but  this  was  refused,  with  the  strongest 
assurance  that  Congress  had  fixed  a  standing  price,  from 
which  they  would  not  depart.  That  as  early  as  May  20, 1785, 
Congress  passed  an  Ordinance,  in  which  it  is  expressly  pro- 
vided :  "  That  none  of  the  lands  within  the  Territory  be  sold 
under  the  price  of  one  dollar  per  acre,  to  be  paid  in  specie, 
loan  ofiice  certificates  reduced  to  specie  value,  or  liquidated 
debts."  That  a  resolve  Avas  passed  on  the  21st  of  April,  1787, 
confirming  the  former  ordinance,  in  which,  it  was  declared: 
"That  none  of  the  lands  shall  be  sold  at  less  price  than  one 
dollar  per  acre,  and  that  the  sales  shall  be  made  agreeably  to 


Life  of  Rev.  llanasseh  Cutler.  473 

the  mode  pointed  out  by  the  ordinance  of  May  20,  1785." 
In  the  fullest  confidence  that  Congress  would  abide  by  their 
own  ordinances  and  resolutions,  in  all  cases  where  a  departure 
from  them  might  essentially  injure  those  citizens  with  whom 
*  Congress  had  entered  into  formal  contract,  the  agents  deemed 
it  safe  to  make  the  purchase,  that  the  company  would  not  be 
liable  to  suffer  in  their  property  by  lands  being  sold  to  future 
purchasers  at  a  lower  rate,  nor  be  defeated  in  their  intentions 
to  accommodate  settlers  by  disposing  of  their  lands  in  smaller 
tracts.  The  circumstances,  likewise,  of  many  of  the  com- 
pany, were  such  as  rendered  it  necessary  that  their  agents 
should  accept  of  the  terms  offered  ;  for,  however  they  might 
be  disposed  to  delay  their  emigrations  until  the  state  of  the 
country  should  be  more  favorable,  yet,  such  was  the  situation  of 
many  of  them,  in  consequence  of  the  depreciation  of  the  securi- 
ties they  had  received  for  their  services  in  the  defense  of  the 
country,  that  they  were  obliged  to  remove  immediately  into  the 
wilderness,  or  remain  in  a  state  of  humiliating  dependence. 

Accordingly,  in  December  following,  the  company  sent  for- 
ward surveyors,  carpenters,  laborers,  etc.,  who,  in  April,  1788, 
began  and  established  a  settlement,  which  two  years  ago  had 
increased  to  more  than  one  thousand  persons.  But  this  Avas 
not  effected  without  a  heavy  tax  on  the  funds  of  the  company, 
as  well  as  on  the  individual  settlers ;  for,  although  many  of  the 
natives  appeared  friendly,  yet  others  discovered  a  hostile  dis- 
position. The  settlers  found  themselves  in  a  more  hazardous 
situation  than  they  expected.  The  small  number  of  troops  as- 
signed to  the  Western  Territory  being  inadequate  to  that  pro- 
tection of  the  frontiers  which  was  necessary  to  give  security 
to  the  people,  they  found  that  they  must  erect  defenses  wher- 
ever they  sat  down,  that  they  must  work  in  companies,  and 
guards  must  be  continually  kept,  or  they  would  neither  labor 
nor  sleep  in  safety.  This  continued  to  be  their  situation  until 
after  the  peace  concluded  with  the  Indians  by  Governor  St. 
Clair,  in  1789  ;  from  which  time,  until  General  Harmar's  ex- 
pedition, the  settlers  enjoyed  a  tolerable  degree  of  quiet,  al- 
though during  that  period  eight  men  were  killed,  tAvo  taken 
prisoners,  and  many  horses  were  stolen.  But,  since  that  un- 
fortunate affair,  the   settlers    have    experienced    a    continued 


474  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

scene  of  suffering  and  distress,  which  wouhl  be  extremely 
painful,  and  perhaps  improper  to  describe  in  this  place,  and 
which  has  added  to  the  expense  of  the  company,  for  their  pro- 
tection, the  last  year,  more  than  nine  thousand  dollars,  besides 
the  pay  and  rations  of  the  militia  allowed  to  be  maintained  * 
and  paid  by  government.  In  addition  to  their  unexpected  ex- 
penses and  discouragements,  it  was  found  necessary,  so  long 
ago  as  December,  1788,  to  make  a  further  sacrifice  of  a  grant 
of  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  out  of  each  proprietor's  share, 
to  be  given  to  such  persons  as  would  undertake  to  settle  the 
same  and  perform  military  services. 

Your  Petitioners  beg  leave  to  observe  further,  that  the 
proprietors,  in  general,  received  the  certificates  which  they 
advanced  in  payment  for  their  lands,  equal  in  value  to  spe- 
cie, yet  the  price  was,  at  least,  in  some  proportion  to  the  de- 
preciated state  of  public  securities ;  the  price  of  the  lands 
being  much  above  their  real  specie  value,  the  company's  prop- 
erty must  suffer,  in  proportion  to  the  rise  of  public  securities,  in 
their  future  sales  of  that  Territory ;  and  so  great  has  been  the 
expense  of  many  of  the  proprietors,  in  removing  their  families 
into  the  country  and  establishing  their  settlements,  that  it  is 
not  in  their  power  to  make  any  further  payments.  We  have 
been  induced  to  give  this  detail,  that  the  real  situation  and 
merit  of  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates  might  in  some  meas- 
ure appear.  For,  when  Congress  shall  consider  that  the  pro- 
prietors, in  general,  paid  for  their  lands  in  securities  they  had 
received  equal  to  specie ;  that  the  price  was  far  above  the  real 
value  of  the  lands,  circumstanced  as  those  lands  then  were, 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  proprietors  have  it  not,  nor  ever  can 
have  it,  iu  their  power  to  complete  their  contract,  owing  to 
the  rise  of  Public  Securities,  to  the  unexpected  expenses 
incurred  in  consequence  of  the  hostile  disposition  of  the  sav- 
ages on  our  first  arrival,  and  the  great  increase  of  expenses 
occasioned  by  the  present  Indian  War,  and  owing  likewise  to 
a  Bill  which  long  since  passed  the  Honorable  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  United  States,  placing  the  price  of  the 
lands  in  the  Western  Territory  at  a  much  lower  rate  than  that 
at  which  they  were  sold  to  the  Ohio  Company.  For,  although 
this  Bill  has  not  been  completed,  yet  the  public  mind  is  so 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  475 

fixed,  with  respect  to  the  price  of  those  lands,  that,  were  the 
Territory  in  a  state  of  peace,  the  lands  can  not  be  sold  unless 
on  such  terms  as  must  prove  the  ruin  of  the  settlements  and 
the  destruction  of  the  Ohio.  Company,  for  the  whole  tract 
would  not  amount  to  the  sum  which  remains  to  be  paid  to  the 
Government.  When  Congress  shall  consider  that  this  Com- 
pany opened  the  sale  of  lands  in  the  Western  Territory  by 
becoming  the  first  purchasers  of  any  considerable  tract,  that 
their  object  was  not  to  raise  the  value  of  their  lands,  at  the 
expense,  exertions,  and  risk  of  others,  but  to  make  an  actual 
settlement ;  when  they  shall  consider  the  great  expenses  of 
the  Company,  which  have  amounted  already  to  more  than 
thirty-three  thousand  dollars, -in  specie,  besides  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  to  each  share,  the  hazard,  extraordinary  serv- 
ices of  the  settlers  in  securing  their  own  protection,  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  mode  of  settlement  they  have  adopted,  though 
very  expensive,  was  the  only  one  that  would,  with  any  degree 
of  certainty,  succeed.  And  when  it  is  further  considered  that 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars  were  actually  paid  into  the 
Treasury  of  the  United  States  by  the  Ohio  Company,  more 
than  four  years  ago,  the  interest  of  which  has  from  that  time 
ceased,  and  so  much  of  the  National  Debt  sunk,  and  the  Com- 
pany placing  the  utmost  confidence  in  those  Ordinances  and 
Resolutions  of  Congress  which  declare  "  that  the  price  of  lands 
shall  not  be  less  than  one  dollar  per  acre,"  must  suffer  great, 
injury  and  injustice,  in  consequence  of  a  reduction  of  it  to 
others,  unless  the  same  reduction  shall  extend  to  this  pur- 
chase. When  these  and  many  other  weighty  arguments,  which 
might  have  been  suggested,  are  contemplated  by  Congress, 
your  Petitioners  are  persuaded  they  will  commiserate  the  sin- 
gular and  unhappy  situation  of  this  Company,  and  will  not 
demand  a  literal  fulfillment  of  their  contract  and  afterward 
sell  their  lands  to  others  at  a  lower  rate. 

Your  Petitioners,  therefore,  pray  that  Congress  will  be 
pleased,  as  immediately  as  may  be,  to  take  the  premises  into 
consideration  and  confirm  the  tract  of  land  to  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany of  Associates  described  in  their  contract  Avith  the  late 
Board  of  Treasury,  at  the  rate  of  twenty  cents  per  acre,  or 
that  Congress  will   retrieve  this  unfortanate    Company  from 


476  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

inevitable  ruin  by  granting  such  terms  and  conditions  as  they, 
in  their  wisdom,  shall  deem,  under  its  present  circumstances, 
to  be  just  and  reasonable. 

Your  Petitioners  earnestly  solicit  the  further  attention  of 
Congress  to  the  urgent  and  pressing  reasons  which  compel 
them  to  pray  for  an  immediate  attention  to  their  petition. 
The  surveys  of  the  outlines  are  now  finished,  and  the  returns 
in  a  short  time  will  be  made  ;  after  which,  the  second  payment 
becomes  due,  and  if  not  completed,  the  lands,  and  all  the  im- 
provements of  the  Company,  will  be  liable  to  a  forfeiture. 
This  circumstance  gives  great  uneasiness  to  all  the  proprie- 
tors, and  especially  to  those  in  the  settlement.  The  proprie- 
tors, not  having  a  clear  title,  can  not  sell  their  lands  to  others 
without  hazard  to  both  themselves  and  purchasers.  Th-e  prop- 
erty being  unnegotiable,  the  value  of  shares  is  daily  depre- 
ciating, and  the  uneasiness  and  sufferings  of  the  proprietors 
are  in  the  same  proportion  increasing,  as  negotiations  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  the  existence  of  the  Company  can  not  be 
carried  into  effect  by  the  Directors  in  the  present  state  of  the 
property. 

A  very  considerable  part  of  the  military  strength  of  the  set- 
tlement depends  upon  non-proprietors,  to  whom  lands  have 
been  promised  on  condition  of  the  performance  of  military 
services  to  the  end  of  the  present 'war,  and  should  the  closing 
of  this  present  contract  be  postponed  to  a  future  session  of 
Congress,  the  Company  can  not  fulfill  their  engagements  to 
them,  and  if  not  done,  the  Directors  are  confidently  assured 
those  people  will  desert  the  settlement,  the  inevitable  conse- 
quences of  which  must  be  that  a  great  part,  if  not  the  whole 
of  the  settlement,  will  be  abandoned.  Nor  does  the  hazard  of 
a  total  desertion  depend  only  on  those  people ;  the  resident 
proprietors  sensibly  feel  the  great  loss  of  men  and  property 
which  they  have  sustained,  as  well  as  the  extreme  distress 
and  suffering  they  endured  the  last  year.  There  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that,  unless  they  are  relieved  from  that  state 
of  suspense  and  uncertainty  respecting  their  title  with  which 
their  minds-  have  been  so  long  exercised,  they  will  make  no 
further  exertions  to  defend  a  settlement  from  which  they  are 
liable  at  any  time  to  be  driven  ;  th-at,  if  the  tomahawk  and 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  477 

scalping-knife  do  not    prevent  an  escape,  they  will  immedi- 
ately retreat  to  some  place  of  greater  security. 

We  will  only  add  that  the  most  of  your  Petitioners  have 
with  much  anxiety  left  their  families,  exposed  every  moment 
to  an  attack  from  the  Indians,  to  repair  to  this  place  for  the 
purpose  of  closing  the  contract,  and  should  they  be  obliged 
to  return  without  effecting  their  object,  we  fear  the  evils  we 
have  suggested  and  ma.ny  more  will  unavoidably  take  place. 
And  your  Petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever  pray. 

RuFus  Putnam, 
Manasseh  Cutler, 
Robert  Oliver, 
March  2,  1792.  Directors. 

[The  Committee,  to  whom  the  foregoing  petition  of  the  Di- 
rectors was  referred,  consisted  of  Messrs.  Sedgwick,  Findley, 
Larned,  Benson,  and  Baldwin,  who  made  the  following  report]  : 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Memorial  of  the 
Directors  of  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates,  so  called,  hav- 
ing attended  the  duty  assigned  to  them, 

REPORT : 

That  the  said  Ohio  Company  of  Associates  had  its  founda- 
tion in  an  application  to  the  United  States  in  Congress  assem- 
bled, by  the  officers  of  the  late  army,  a  Copy  of  which,  marked 
Number  I.,  is  herewith  presented  to  the  House.  The  motives 
whereto,  and  the.  objects  proposed  thereby,  are  particularly 
explained  in  the  said  petition,  and  in  the  papers,  marked 
Number  II.  and  Number  III.,  beino-  letters  from  Brigadier- 
General  Putnam  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  and  from  him  to 
the  President  of  Congress.  That  the  contract  mentioned  in 
the  petition  was  completed  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  of 
October,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  a 
copy  whereof,  marked  Number  IV.,  is  herewith  exhibited. 
That  the  contract  was  for  1,500,000  acres  of  land,  at  two- 
thirds  of  a  dollar  per  acre.  That  one-half  of  the  purchase 
was,  at  the  time,  paid  in  the  public  securities  of  the  United 
States.     That  the  petitioners  declare  that  the  said  securities 


478  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

were  almost  universally  paid  for  the  use  of  original  holders  ; 
that  by  means  of  circumstances  which  are  publicly  known, 
they  have  expended  more  than  33,000  dollars  for  their  protec- 
tion and  the  establishment  of  settlements  on  the  territory 
contracted  to  be  conveyed  ;  and  that  they  have  engaged  to 
give  between  80,000  and  90,000  acres  to  those  who  have  under- 
taken to  become  actual  settlers.  The  petitioners  further  state 
to  the  Committee  that  the  settlers  aforesaid,  who  form  a  very 
considerable  proportion  of  the  residents,  will  not  be  induced 
to  continue  there,  unless  they  can  be  secured  in  titles  to  their 
respective  shares,  which  is  not  in  the  power  of  the  proprietors 
to  effect,  until  Congress  shall  have  decided  on  their  case. 
This  manifests  that  their  present  desertion  would  operate  the 
total  ruin  of  the  aflfairs  of  the  Company. 

On  the  foregoing  state  of  facts,  the  Committee  are  of 
opinion — 

1.  That  it  is  of  great  importance  to  the  said  Company  that 
their  case  should  be  decided  the  present  session. 

2.  That  it  would  be  inexpedient  to  exact  of  the  said  pro- 
prietors a  specific  performance  of  the  said  contract,  and  that 
fulfillment  thereof  is  probably  beyond  their  ability. 

3.  That  to  enable  the  said  Company  to  maintain  their  set- 
tlements will  be  of  public  utility. 

4.  That  the  sum  already  paid  for  the  territory  contracted 
to  be  conveyed,  being  for  the  whole  quantity,  at  the  rate  of 
33^  cents  per  acre,  is  probably  as  much  as  will  be  determined 
as  the  price  of  future  sales  of  public  lands. 

5.  That  it  is  expedient  to  relinquish  any  demand  for  pay- 
ment of  what  remains  due  to  the  government  in  virtue  of  the 
said  contract. 

The  Committee,  as  the  result  of  the  foregoing  opinions, 
submit  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  bring  in  a  bill 
to  authorize  a  conveyance  to  the  Directors  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, so  called,  for  the  use  of  the  said  Company,  a  tract  of 
land  particularly  described  in  an  indenture  executed  the 
twenty-seventh  day  of  October,  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  eighty-seven,  betAveen  the  then  Board  of  Treasury,  for 
the  United  States  of  the  one  part,  and   Manasseh  Cutler  and 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  479 

Winthrop  Sargent,  as  agents  for  the  Directors  of  the  said 
Ohio  Company  of  the  other  part,  with  the  reservations  in  the 
said  indenture  mentioned,  in  consideration  of  the  purchase- 
money  in  the  said  indenture  expressed  to  have  been  received  j 
and  to  release  to  the  said  company  the  500,000  dollars,  the 
residue  of  the  said  purchase-money  remaining  unpaid. 

The  documents  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  Report  are  : 

Number  I.  The  Petition  of  the  Officers  in  the  Continental 
Line  of  the  Army  to  the  President  and  Delegates  in  Congress, 
June  16,  1783. 

Number  II.  Letter  of  Rufus  Putnam  to  General  Washing- 
ton, New  Windsor,  June  16,  1783. 

Number  III.  Letter  of  George  Washington,  transmitting 
the  Officers'  Petition  to  the  President  of  Congress,  Head- 
quarters, Newburgh,  June  17,  1783. 

Number  IV.  Contract  of  the  Ohio  Company  with  the  Board 
of  Treasury  of  the  United  States,  October  27,  1787. 

These  papers,  except  the  last,  are  given  in  full  in  another 
part  of  this  volume. 

All  Act  authorizing  the  grant  and  convf^jaiice  of  certain   Lands  to  the 
Ohio  Company  of  Associates. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  hy  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sejitatives  of  the  JJyiited  States  of  America  in  Co7igress  assemhledy 
That  a  certain  contract  expressed  in  an  indenture  executed  on 
the  twenty-seventh  day  of  October,  in  the  year  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  between  the  then  Board  of 
Treasury,  for  the  United  States  of  America  of  the  one  part,  and 
Manasseh  Cutler  and  Winthrop  Sargent,  as  agents  for  the  di- 
rectors of  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates  of  the  other  part,  so 
far  as  the  same  respects  the  following  described  tract  of  land ; 
that  is  to  say  :  "  Beginning  at  a  station  where  the  western 
boundary  line  of  the  seventh  range  of  townships,  laid  out  by  the 
authority  of  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  inter- 
sects the  river  Ohio  ;  thence  extending  along  that  river  south- 
westerly to  a  place  Avhere  the  western  boundary  line  of  the 
fifteenth  range  of  townships,  when-  laid  out  agreeably  to  the 
land  ordinance,  passed  the  twentieth  day  of  May,  one  thousand 


480  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

seven  hundred  and  eighty-five,  wouhl  touch  the  said  river ; 
thence  running  northerly  on  the  said  western  bounds  of  the 
said  fifteenth  range  of  townships,  till  a  line  drawn  due  east  of 
the  Avestern  boundary  line  of  the  said  seventh  range  of  town- 
ships, will  comprehend,  with  the  other  lines  of  this  tract, 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres  of  land,  besides  the 
several  lots  and  parcels  of  land  in  the  said  contract  reserved 
or  appropriated  to  particular  purposes  ;  thence  running  east 
to  the  western  boundary  line  of  the  said  seventh  range  of 
townships,  and  thence  along  the  said  line  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning ;"  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  confirmed.  And  that 
the  President  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  au- 
thorized and  empowered  to  issue  letters  patent  in  the  name 
and  under  the  seal  of  the  United  States,  thereby  granting  and 
conveying  to  Rufus  Putnam,  Manasseh  Cutler,  Robert  Oliver, 
and  Griffin  Green,  and  to  their  heirs  and  assigns,  in  fee  simple, 
the  said  described  tract  of  land,  with  the  reservations  in  the 
said  indenture  expressed,  in  trust  for  the  persons  composing 
the  said  Ohio  Company  of  Associates,  according  to  their  sev- 
eral rights  and  interests,  and  for  their  heirs  and  assigns,  as 
tenants  in  common. 

Sec.  II.  And  he  it  further  enacted,  That  the  President  be, 
and  he  hereby  is,  further  authorized  and  empowered,  by  letters 
patent  as  aforesaid,  to  grant  and  convey  to  the  said  Rufus 
Putnam,  Manasseh  Cutler,  Robert  Oliver,  and  Griffin  Green, 
and  to  their  heirs  and  assigns,  in  trust  for  the  uses  above  ex- 
pressed, one  other  tract  of  two  hundred  and  fourteen  thousand, 
two  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  of  land  ;  jjrovided,  that  the 
said  Rufus  Putnam,  Manasseh  Cutler,  Robert  Oliver,  and 
Griffin  Green,  or  either  of  them,  shall  deliver  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasui-y,  within  six  months,  Avarrants  which  issued 
for  army  bounty-rights  sufficient  for  that  purpose,  according 
to  the  provisions  of  a  resolve  of  Congress  of  the  twenty-third 
day  of  July,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven. 

Sec.  III.  A72d  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  President  be, 
and  he  hereby  is,  further  authorized  and  empowered,  by  letters 
patent  as  aforesaid,  to  grant  and  convey  to  the  said  Rufus 
Putnam,  Manasseh  Cutler,  Robert  Oliver,  and  Griffin  Green, 
and  to  their  heirs  and  assigns,  in  fee  simple,  in  trust  for  the 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  481 

uses  above  expressed,  a  further  quantity  of  one  hundred 
thousand  acres  of  land ;  provided  always,  nevertheless,  the  said 
grant  of  one  hundred  thousand  acres  shall  be  made  on  the  ex- 
press condition  of  becoming  void,  for  such  part  thereof  as  the 
said  Company  shall  not  have,  Avithin  five  years  from  the  pass- 
ing of  this  act,  conveyed  in  fee  simple,  as  a  bounty  and  free 
of  expense,  in  tracts  of  one  hundred  acres,  to  each  male  per- 
son, not  less  than  eighteen  years  of  age,  being  an  actual  settler 
at  the  time  of  such  conveyance. 

Sec.  IV.  And  he  it  further  enacted,  That  the  said  quantities 
of  two  hundred  and  fourteen  thousand,  two  hundred  and 
eighty-five  acres,  and  of  one  hundred  thousand  acres,  shall  be 
located  within  the  limits  of  the  tract  of  one  million,  five  hun- 
dred thousand  acres  of  land,  described  in  the  indenture  afore- 
said, and  adjoining  to  the  tract  of  land  described  in  the  first 
section  of  this  act,  and  in  such  form  as  the  President,  in  the 
letters  patent,  shall  prescribe  for  that  purpose. 

Sec.  V,  And  he  it  further  enacted,  That  the  President  shall 
be,  and  he  hereby  is,  authorized  and  empowered  to  grant  and 
convey,  as  aforesaid,  to  the  said  Company  of  Associates,  in 
the  proportion  of  their  respective  rights  and  interests,  the 
residue  of  the  said  one  million  five  hundred  thousand  acres 
of  land  ;  2y'>'ovided,  the  said  Company,  or  any  of  them  or  their 
agents,  shall,  within  six  years  from  the  passing  of  this  act, 
pay  into  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  therefor  at  the 
rate  of  twenty-five  cents  per  acre,  with  the  interest  thereof; 
provided,  nevertheless,  that  bounty  warrants  for  land  may  be  re- 
ceived in  payment  for  the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  said  tract 
which  shall  remain  after  deducting  the  reserved  lots. 

1792,  April  the  6th.     Passed  the  House  of  Representatives. 

This  act  was  subsequently  passed  by  the  Senate,  with  the 
exception  of  Section  V.  Vice-President  Adams  gave  the 
casting  vote  in  favor  of  the  donation  of  one  hundred  thou- 
sand acres.  Congress  did  not  reduce  the  price  of  the  lands, 
as  recommended  in  the  Report  of  the  Committee,  so  as  to 
allow  the  Company  the  full  number  of  acres  for  which  they 
had  contracted,  in  consideration  of  the  moiety  of  the  purchase- 
money  which  had  been  paid  into  the  public  Treasury ;  but,  by 
31 


482  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

a  liberal  compromise,  deeds  were  given  to  the   Directors   for 
more  than  a  million  acres  of  land. 

Tavo  letters  written  by  Dr.  Cutler  to  his  wife  while  this  busi- 
ness was  pending  have  been  preserved,  and  are  here  given  : 

{To  3Irs.  Cutler.'] 

Philadelphia,  March  5,  1792. 
My  Dear: — A  number  of  the  members  of  Congress,  whom 
we  have  interested  in  our  matters,  have  had  several  meetings 
with  General  Putnam,  Colonel  Oliver,  and  myself,  to  consult 
on  measures  for  closing  our  contract.  They  were  very  doubt- 
ful whether  it  would  avail  to  petition  this  session,  and  recom- 
mended putting  it  off  to  another,  as  Congress  has  agreed  to 
rise  the  1st  Tuesday  in  April,  and  had  ten  times  as  much 
business  before  them  as  they  can  do  in  that  period.  We  have, 
however,  pressed  the  measure  so  hard  that  they  consented 
and  engaged  to  support  our  petition.  We  prepared  our  pe- 
tition as  soon  as  possible,  and  presented  it  on  Friday,  request- 
ing that  it  might  be  referred  to  a  large  select  Committee  of 
the  House,  rather  than  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  We 
made  choice  ourselves  of  the  Committee,  and  were  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  get  each  individual  (we  had  chosen)  appointed,  viz  : 
Sedgwick,  Findley,  Baldwin,  Learned,  and  Benson.*  This  Com- 
mittee were  not  able  to  meet  until  this  morning,  when 
we  attended  them,  but  we  had  just  laid  before  them  our  pa- 
pers, and  began  to  open  our  business,  when  the   Speaker  of 


*  Theodore  Sed.L'wick,  LL  D.,  the  chairman  of  this  committf^e,  was 
a  classmate  of  Dr.  Cutler  at  Yale.  He  was  in  service -in  the  Revolu- 
tion as  Aid  to  General  Thomas,  was  several  times  a  member  of  the 
Massachusetts  Gentral  Court,  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress 
in  1785,  of  the  United  States  Congiess,  1789  to  17li6,  serving  one  term 
as  Speaker,  United  States  Senator,  1796  to  1799,  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Massachusetts  from  1S02  until  his  death,  in  1813. 

William  Findley  was  a  member  Irom  Western  Pennsylvania.  He 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  in  politics  a  follower  of  Jefferson. 

Abraham  Baldwin  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  a  Yale  graduate 
of  1772.  He  was  educated  as  a  clergyman,  but  abandoned  the  pulpit 
for  the  bar.  In  1784  he  settled  in  Savannah,  Georgia.  From  1785  un- 
til his  death  in  1S07,  he  was  a  member  from  Georgia  of  the  Continental 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  483 

the  House  sent  the  Marshal-at- Arms  to  summons  them  to  attend 
the  House,  for  there  were  not  members  enough  present  to  make 
a  quorum.  This  was  no  small  disappointment,  for  we  enter- 
tained a  hope  that  they  would  have  reported  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, and  the  business  be  taken  up  by  the  House.  The  Com- 
mittee adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning,  when  they  meet 
again.  It  is  intolerably  provoking  that  these  idle,  lazy,  six 
dollars  per  day  men  can  not  rise  in  the  morning,  sip  their 
coflFee,  and  dismiss  their  barbers  early  enough  to  attend  Con- 
gress at  eleven  o'clock.  I  fear  we  may  have  the  same  inter- 
ruption to- morrow,  but  hope  not,  as  they  have  given  encourage- 
ment that  they  will  pay  close  attention  to  our  business  until  it 
has  passed  the  House. 

After  our  petition  has  passed  the  House,  it  must  go  to  the 
Senate,  there  be  committed  to  a  Committee,  and  go  through 
all  the  formalities  which  are  used  by  the  House.  Mr.  Win- 
gate  says  we  shall  be  fortunate  if  we  get  it  through  in  a 
month.  However,  I  hope  and  believe  he  will  be  a  false 
prophet.  I  shall  be  much  disappointed  if  we  do  not  get  it 
through  in  a  fortnight.  Of  the  probable  event  of  our  peti- 
tion I  can  say  nothing.  We  have  secured  a  large  number  of 
powerful  advocates  in  both  Houses,  but  we  shall  find  a  strong 
opposition  to  granting  the  prayer  of  our  petition,  which  is, 
that  the  whole  tract  may  be  confirmed  to  us  at  20  cents  per 
acre.  I  have  no  expectation  of  obtaining  so  great  a  reduction, 
but  I  am  pretty  well  assured  the  business  will  now  be  brought 

Congress,  ot"  the  Convention  which  framed  the  Federal  Constitution,  of 
the  United  States  Congress,  and  of  the  United  States  Senate.  He  was 
a  brother-in-law  of  Joel  Barlow. 

Amasa  Learned  was  a  native  of  Killingly,  Connecticut,  Doctor  Cut- 
ler's old  home,  and  a  graduate  of  Yale,  1772.  He  was  several  times  a 
member  of  Congress  from  Connecticut,  and  often  a  member  of  the 
Connecticut  Legislature. 

Egbert  Benson,  LL.D.,  was  a  member  of  Congress  from  New  York. 
He  was  an  eminent  lawyer  and  prominent  in  literary  circles.  He  was 
the  first  .\ttorney-General  of  Xew  York,  a  member  of  the  New  York 
State  Committee  of  Safety  during  the  Revolution,  member  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  of  the  United  States  Congress,  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  New  York,  and  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court.  He 
was  the  first  President  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  and  was 
the  author  of  a  number  of  historical  works. 


484  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

to  a  close  at  some  rate  or  other,  "which  will  be  no  small  satis- 
faction to  me.  Every  moment  of  our  time  has  been  very  busily 
employed  in  preparing  our  petition,  and  making  interest  with 
the  members  of  both  Houses.  We  have  still  to  be  equally 
engaged  in  trotting  after  their  High  Mightinesses,  and  if  we 
fail  I  am  sure  it  will  not  be  owing  to  any  neglect  of  ours. 

I  must,  however,  do  them  the  justice  to  say  we  are  treated 
with  great  complaisance,  and  many  assurances  of  their  influ- 
ence. The  New  England  members,  I  believe,  are  nearly,  per- 
haps all,  for  us,  but  party  interests  and  local  politics  Avill  dis- 
pose a  considerable  number  of  the  southern  members  to  be 
against  us.  Two  of  those  members  lodge  in  the  house  with 
me — Mr.  Huger  and  Dr.  Tucker  ;*  one  of  them,  Mr.  Huger, 
I  think  I  have  converted,  but  Dr.  Tucker,  I  fear,  will  prove  a 
reprobate.  I  do  not,  however,  yet  despair  of  his  conversion. 
They  are  both  very  agreeable,  and  I  give  them  no  peace,  when 
I  can  get  a  chance  to  preach  on  the^=!  subject  of  our  petition. 
When  I  return  I  shall  be  able  to  give  you  many  humorous 
anecdotes  of  my  friend,  Mr.  Huger,  who  is  a  very  diverting,  droll 
genius.  But  in  no  instance  have  I  been  treated  with  so  much 
particular  attention  as  by  the  Vice-President.  It  so  happened 
that  I  did  not  find  him,  though  I  called  repeatedly  at  his 
house,  until  yesterday  at  Dr.  Sprout's  meeting.  iVfter  the 
morning  exercise  he  came  to  me  and  gave  me  a  pretty  severe 
reprimand  for  not  having  called  upon  him,  for,  as  I  did 
not  leave  a  card,  he  was  not  informed  of  my  being  at  his 
house.  He  told  me  he  had  heard  of  my  being  in  the  city, 
but  had  not  been  able  to  find  my  lodgings.  Although  I  was 
engaged  to  dine  with  Mr.  Goodhue,  who  was  then  with  me, 
he  insisted  that  Mr.  Goodhue  should  excuse  me,  and  that  I 
should  take  a  family  dinner  with  him,  which  I  did.  When  I 
came  to  his  house  I  found  that  Mrs.  Adams  was  dangerously 
sick  with  a  fever.  He  told  me  he  refused  all  invitations  to 
dine  abroad,  and  that  he  received  no  formal  company  at  home, 


*  Daniel  Huger  and  Thomas  Tudor  Tucker  were  members  from 
South  Carolina.  Both  were  distinjzuished  for  patriotism  during  the 
Revolution,  and  both  had  served  in  the  Continental  Congress.  Dr. 
Tucker  did  not  "prove  a  reprobate,"  but  favored  the  bill  reported  by 
the  Committee. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  485 

but  very  politely  desired  me  to  come  and  take  a  family  din- 
ner Avitli  him  every  day  while  I  was  in  the  city,  or  at  least 
when  I  was  not  engaged  to  dine  in  company ;  in  short,  to 
make  his  house  my  home.  I  attended  worship  with  him  in 
the  afternoon,  but  excused  myself  from  taking  tea,  as  I  was  en- 
gaged to  take  tea  with  Mrs.  Cabot.  This  morning  I  called  to 
inquire  after  Mrs.  Adams.  He  repeated  his  yesterday's 
invitation  with  great  urgency.  I  was  engaged  to-day,  but 
shall  dine  with  him  to-morrow.  I  was  favored  with  being 
closeted  with  him  a  couple  of  hours,  opened  to  him  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Directors,  and  am  pretty  confident  he  will  essen- 
tially serve  our  cause.  It  gave  me  much  pleasure  that  I  had 
this  favorable  opportunity  to  mention  to  him  General  Putnam 
as  a  proper  officer  to  command  the  force  to  be  raised  and  sent 
against  the  Indians.  He  is  much  dissatisfied  with  the  conduct 
of  St.  Clair,  and  highly  approves  of  the  command  being  given 
to  Putnam.  On  this  subject  he  opened  himself  with  great 
freedom,  said  that  in  consequence  of  my  recommendation  of 
Putnam  to  him  he  had  used  his  influence  with  the  President  to 
appoint  him  one  of  the  judges.  That  since  Putnam  received 
that  appointment  every  account  of  him  had  given  reason  to  be- 
lieve the  appointment  judicious.  That  he  should  be  decidedly 
for  him,  though  he  had  not  thought  of  him  before  to  command 
the  army.  Desired  me  to  take  the  earliest  opportunity  to  con- 
verse with  General  Knox,  and  to  press  it  upon  him,  and  as 
Putn'am  was  my  particular  friend,  to  propose  him  to  all  the 
members  of  the  Senate,  as  well  as  the  most  influential  in  the 
House,  with  whom  I  conversed,  and  to  request  them  to  pro- 
pose him  to  the  President.  He  mentioned  many  other  means 
of  supporting  him,  but  I  mention  these  to  show  how  much  he 
is  disposed  to  promote  a  measure  in  which  I  feel  myself  ex- 
ceedingly interested,  both  as  respects  Putnam  and  as  regards 
the  country  at  large.  I  have  just  seen  St.  Clair ;  he  is  now 
hearty  and  well,  and  from  some  expressions  I  presume  he  ex- 
pects to  continue  in  command.  It  is  said  that  the  people  in 
the  western  country  universally  wish  Putnam  may  take  com- 
mand, and  I  believe  were  it  to  be  decided  by  Congress  he 
would  have  a  generous  vote.     He  does  not  wish  for  it,  and  in- 


486  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

sists  that  I  should  not  mention  him,  but  if  appointed  he  will 
accept. 

But,  my  dear,  I  have  been  saying   things  of  which  I  might 
well  be  ashamed,  for  I  have  been  puffing  my  own  consequence, 

and  giving  myself  the  airs   of  a   C ,   of  Lynn,   which  I 

most  heartily  despise.  It  may  be  necessary  to  remark  that 
however  important  their  High  Mightinesses  of  Congress  may 
appear  abroad,  they  appear  here,  when  you  converse  freely 
with  them,  as  small  as  other  people,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  con- 
ceive how  much  a  very  little  being  may,  if  disposed,  work  upon 
their  caprice  and  whims,  and  after  all  I  have  said  I  believe 
the  Vice-President  to  be  a  very  judicious,  independent  man  ; 
that  he  is  much  displeased  with  that  powerful  southern  influ- 
ence constantly  played  off  upon  the  President,  and  which  has  in 
some  recent  instances  rather  over-balanced  his  good  judg- 
ment. 

I  am  now  pretty  well,  but  the  constant  routine  of 
four  and  five  o'clock  dinners  at  the  most  sumptuous 
tables  almost  kills  me.  I  had  infinitely  rather  sit  down  with 
you  to  a  piece  of  salt  junk  at  one  o'clock  than  be  tormented 
with  the  parade  and  delay  of  Philadelphia  entertainments. 

Your  most  affectionate  husband, 

M.  Cutler. 
{To  Mrs.  Cutler.'] 

Philadelphia,  March  23,  1792. 
3Iy  Dear: — The  question  on  General  Wayne's  election  em- 
ployed Congress  the  whole  of  last  week  until  Friday,  3  o'clock, 
when  the  House  voted  unanimously  that  he  was  not  duly 
elected.  It  was  the  opinion  of  our  friends  that  it  would  not 
be  best  to  attempt  to  bring  forward  the  report  on  our  petition 
on  Saturday,  as  there  were  several  bills  before  the  House  from 
the  Senate  which  must  be  passed  upon,  but  on  Monday  they 
had  no  doubt  of  getting  it  before  the  House.  As  soon  as  the 
House  was  opened  on  Monday,  the  report  was  called  for,  but 
a  number  of  members  came  forward  with  a  new  question,  re- 
lating to  the  Georgia  Election,  viz.,  whether  General  Jackson 
was  duly  elected  ?  Our  friends  pressed  the  House  very  hard 
to  take  up  our  business,  and  stated  urgent  reasons  for  doing 
it  immediately.     It  was   also   urged,  on   the  other  hand,  that 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  487 

deciding  on  Elections  was  always  the  first  object  with  Con- 
gress, and  that  all  other  public  and  private  business  must  give 
way  to  it.  After  a  pretty  warm  debate,  it  was  carried  to  take 
up  the  Election.  The  House  was  much  divided — a  very  se- 
rious course  of  debating  took  place,  and  continued  from  day 
to  day  till  Thursday.  The  question  was  then  taken — 29  for 
Jackson  and  29  against  him — the  Speaker  deciding  the  vote 
by  voting  against  his  having  a  seat.  It  was  then  agreed  by 
our  friends,  with  those  who  wished  to  bring  up  a  bill  that  had 
long  been  before  the  House  on  the  Funding  System,  if  they 
would  consent  that  this  bill  should  be  finished  yesterday,  they 
would  unite  in  calling  up  our  business  to-day.  I  now  expect 
it  will  come  before  the  House  this  day,  still  I  am  not  without 
my  fears  that  something  may  turn  up  to  prevent.  Congress 
is  extremely  crowded  with  business — they  are  extremely  te- 
dious in  their  debates  and  slow  in  their  decisions,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  all  in  a  nettle  to  rise  and  adjourn  for  the  season. 
Thus  we  are  situated.  We  must  wait  the  event  of  the  report 
of  the  Committee  (which  I  informed  you  was  in  our  favor),  let 
consequences  be  what  they  may.  We  are  certain  a  number  of 
the  Virginia  and  N.  Carolina  members  intend  to  make  a  warm 
opposition.  All  the  New  England  members  are  for  us,  and 
the  most  of  them  much  engaged,  and  will  take  an  active  part. 
New  York,  part  of  N.  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina, 
and  Georgia  are  for  us.  But  it  is  yet  doubtful  whether  a 
majority  of  the  House  will  agree  to  the  report.  But  I  feel 
very  sanguine,  if  the  report  is  not  accepted  as  it  stands.  Con- 
gress will  agree  to  do  something  for  us. 

Many  applications  are  made  for  the  Command  of  the  Army — 
Generals  Lincoln  and  Putnam  are  on  the  list,  and  from  what 
General  Knox  told  me  yesterday,  I  think  Putnam  stands  a 
good  chance  to  have  the  appointment.  The  principal  diffi- 
culty seems  to  be  his  rank  in  the  late  Army,  which  was  not 
so  high  as  that  of  some  who  wish  to  serve  in  this. 

About  ten  days  ago  50  Sachems  and  Warriors  of  the  tribes 
of  the  Six  Nations  arrived  in  this  city.  Among  them  was  a 
son  of  the  Cornplanter,  a  young  chief,  about  25  years  of  age. 
When  the  Marquis  La  Fayette  went  to  France,  he  took  this 
young  chief  with  him,  gave  him   a  fine  education,  and  about 


488  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

two  years  ago  he  returned  an  accomplished  Frenchman.  On 
his  way  to  this  city  he  Avas  taken  unwell,  and  on  Monday  died 
of  a  fever.  He  was  buried  on  Wednesday,  with  the  Honors  of 
War.  Great  preparations  Avere  made  on  this  occasion.  Sev- 
eral Independent  Companies,  trains  of  Artillery,  Military 
Officers,  etc.,  preceded  the  corpse.  The  40  Indians,  all  in 
complete  uniforms  of  the  officers  of  the  United  States,  with 
laced  hats,  followed  as  mourners,  then  the  principal  officers 
of  Government,  many  members  of  both  Houses  of  Congress,  all 
the  Clergy  of  the  city  of  every  denomination,  and  many  other 
gentlemen  made  up  the  procession.  The  crowds  of  people 
were  immense ;  the  streets  were  so  filled  that  it  Avas  Avith  the 
utmost  difficulty,  and  not  Avithout  wounding  many,  that  the 
procession  could  pass.  In  short,  the  collection  Avas  so  great 
that  the  procession  was  to  be  seen  only  from  some  elevated 
situation.  I  happened  myself  to  be  fortunate.  The  Speaker 
of  the  House,  Mr.  Learned  Avhom  you  know  member  from 
Connecticut,  and  myself,  attempted  to  get  to  the  Hotel  from 
wbich  the  procession  was  to  move,  but  we  could  scarcely  get 
in  sight  of  the  house.  We  gave  up  the  idea  of  seeing  the  pro- 
cession, and  Avere  returning,  when  Ave  happened  to  be  invited 
into  the  President's  house  to  vicAv  them  from  a  front  chamber. 
There  were  no  persons  in  the  chamber  but  the  President,  his 
Lady  and  family,  and  Mrs.  Knox.  I  had  the  honor  of  taking 
a  fine  view  of  the  Avhole  at  a  windoAV,  where  there  Avere  only 
tAvo  others — Mistress  President  of  the  United  States  and  Mis- 
tress Secretary  of  the  War  Department.  And  I  assure  you  I 
thought  myself  as  much  Jwnored  as  the  dead  Indian  they  Avere 
parading  along  the  street.  It  Avas  said  there  never  bad  been 
so  many  people  together  in  this  city  on  any  occasion. 

I  shall  Avrite  you  by  the  next  post,  and  hope  to  be  able  to 
give  you  more  favorable  information  than  I  can  at  present. 
My  love  to  the  family. 

I  am,  most  afi'ectionately, 

Mrs.  Cutler.  M.  Cutler. 

[Dr.  Cutler  Avas  at  Cambridge  New  Year's  Day,  1793,  and 
spent  the  evening  with  President  Willard,  at  the  club  at  Cap- 
tain BigeloAv's.     Present:  Judge  Dana,  Mr.  Gannet, Mr.  Pier- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  489 

son,  and  Mr.  Holmes.  The  next  day  he  went  to  Boston  and 
Roxbury,  and  was  at  the  meeting  of  the  Historical  Society  at 
Judge  Sullivan's.] 

January  23,  1793.  In  Boston  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Ohio  Company  at  Colonel  Coleman's — Gen- 
eral Cobb  in  the  chair.  A  committee  chosen  to  attend  to  the 
affairs  of  the  Company. 

January  24,  Thursday.  This  day  celebrated  in  Boston  in 
honor  to  the  French  Revolution.  An  ox  was  roasted  whole 
and  paraded  through  the  streets,  decorated.  A  cart  loaded 
with  bread,  two  carts  with  two  hogsheads  of  punch — the  arms 
of  the  several  tradesmen  on  flags  carried  on  horseback  and  on 
the  carts.  The  ox  cut  up  on  State  Street,  and  strewed  in 
pieces  over  the  crowd.  An  immense  collection  of  people. 
Liberty  and.  Equality  the  words  of  the  day.  A  very  large 
number  celebrated  the  day  in  a  civic  feast  at  Faneuil  Hall. 
Tickets,  3  dollars.  No  invitations.  I  came  home  after  3 
o'clock. 

[Before  the  sanguinary  horrors  that  marked  the  progress  of 
the  French  Revolution,  had  shocked  all  Christendom,  the  move- 
ment, in  its  beginning,  Avas  favorably  regarded  in  America  as 
calculated  to  promote  the  cause  of  freedom  and  the  welfare  of 
mankind,  but,  from  its  bloody  advance,  the  sympathies  of  all 
good  men  recoiled. 

About  this  time  a  matter  of  particular  interest  to  Dr.  Cut- 
ler's parishioners  claimed  his  attention  and  efforts.  "  The 
people  of  the  Hamlet  conceiving  themselves  deprived  of  essen- 
tial rights  and  privileges,  to  which  they  had  a  just  claim,  and 
that  they  were  subjected  to  burdens  and  inconveniences  which 
they  ought  not  to  bear,"  were  very  desirous  to  be  separated 
from  Ipswich  and  to  be  formed  into  an  independent  town. 
To  accomplish  this  purpose,  they  sought  the  aid  of  their  pas- 
tor, to  whom  they  were  accustomed  to  turn  in  every  emer- 
gency. Accordingly,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Dr.  Cutler, 
Colonel  Dodge,  Mr.  Giddings,  and  Mr.  Lamson,  were  ap- 
pointed to  go  to  Boston  and  apply  to  the  General  Court  for 
an  Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  parish.  On  the  5th  of  Feb- 
ruary, they  met  with  a  committee  of  the  Court  and  stated  their 
case.     The  town  of  Ipswich  was  actively  opposed  to  the  move- 


490  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

ment,  and  was  ably  represented  in  the  Court.  A  month  was 
spent  in  patient  working  and  waiting  before  the  committee 
from  the  Hamlet  was  assured  that  a  report  would  be  made  in 
their  favor,  provided  the  parish  should  pay  nine  hundred 
pounds  to  Ipswich.  To  this  they  agreed,  and  the  favorable 
report  was  made,  but  the  object  was  not  yet  attained,  as  the 
Court  was  still  to  act.  At  this  juncture  Dr.  Cutler  vras  re- 
called to  his  home,  to  meet  and  confer  with  General  Putnam 
on  Ohio  Company  affairs.  After  a  few  days,  on  his  return  to 
Boston,  he  found  that,  during  his  absence,  "  Choat  contrived 
to  have  the  report  of  the  committee  negatived  in  the  Senate, 
and  Heard  did  the  same  in  the  House  ;  but  Giddings  had  got 
it  back  into  the  House."  After  much  lobbying,  long  delays, 
and  several  conferences  with  the  Agents  of  the  town,  they 
came  to  an  agreement  which  was  executed  by  Stephen  Choat, 
John  Heard,  and  Jonathan  Cogswell,  on  the  part  of  Ipswich, 
and  M.  Cutler,  Robert  Dodge,  Josh.  Giddings,  and  Jonathan 
Lamson,  on  the  part  of  the  parish.  On  the  21st  of  June,  more 
than  four  months  after  the  application  was  made,  the  engrossed 
bill,  for  incorporating  Ipswich  Hamlet  into  a  town  by  the 
name  of  Hamilton,  pa-ssed  the  House  of  Representatives  to  be 
sent  up  to  the  Senate.     Thus  the  struggle  ended. 

In  reply  to  a  brother  minister  who  on  former  occasions  had 
taken  an  active  part  in  affairs  of  a  secular  nature,  whose  sym- 
pathies were  Avith  the  town  of  Ipswich,  Dr.  Cutler  asks  :  "  Is 
there  any  criminality  in  a  clergyman's  assisting  his  own  people 
to  obtain  their  just  rights  and  claims,  when  unanimously  and 
repeatedly  requested  ;  and,  especially,  when  convinced  that  a 
refusal  would  occasion  much  uneasiness  and  dissatisfaction  ? 
It  is  well  known  that  I  engaged  in  this  matter  with  great  re- 
luctance, and  not  until  after  repeated  and  pressing  applications." 
His  people  felt  that  they  were  indebted  for  the  result  to  Dr. 
Cutler's  perseverance,  skill,  and  management,  and  as  an  ex- 
pression of  their  gratitude  voted  him  fifteen  pounds,  which  he 
declined,  by  letter,  relinquishing  it  to  the  town  of  Hamilton. 

Commencement  at  Harvard  College,  1793,  was  an  occasion 
of  unusual  interest  to  Dr.  Cutler  and  his  family,  as  at  that 
time  his  son,  Charles,  graduated.  It  is  thus  noted:  "July 
16th.  Colonel   Dodge   and    his  son,   Frank,   Lavinia,   Betsey, 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  491 

Temple  (his  daughters  and  son),  and  I  set  out  for  Cambridge. 
Arrived  in  the  evening."  July  17,  Thursday.  Commence- 
ment. Charles  took  his  degree.  Mr.  Chamberlain,  of  Worces- 
ter, whose  son  was  Charles'  chum,  joined  with  mc  in  pro- 
viding. We  had  more  company  than  we  expected.  Dined 
upward  of  an  100 — our  friends  from  Boston,  and  a  number  of 
the  parish.  A  very  great  number  of  people  attended  com- 
mencement.    Charles  had  a  part  in  the  exhibition. 

Charles  Cutler  possessed  good  natural  abilities,  and  was  a 
fine  scholar.  When  he  graduated,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
he  was  immediately  invited  to  assist  Mr.  Pemberton  in  the 
Academy  at  Andover,  which  position  he  declined,  in  order  to 
take  a  school  in  Roxbury,  where  he  taught  a  year,  and  then 
removed  to  the  South  Latin  School,  in"  Boston,  with  Mr.  Hunt, 
at  a  salary  of  £100.  In  1798,  when  troops  were  raised  to  de- 
fend the  coast  from  an  expected  French  invasion,  he  entered 
the  army  as  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster  in  the  15th  Regi- 
ment, under  Colonel  Hunnewell,  stationed  at  Portland,  Maine. 
He  continued  with  the  troops  until  the  disbanding  of  his  regi- 
ment, in  1800,  Avhen  he  returned  to  Boston,  and  studied  law 
with  Hon.  Harrison  Gray  Otis.  His  health  failed,  and  with 
the  hope  of  being  benefited  by  the  change  of  climate,  he 
went  to  Ohio  in  1802.  Here  he  engaged  for  a  time  in  teach- 
ing, until,  prostrated  by  disease,  he  died  at  the  home  of  his 
brother,  Ephraim,  September  17,  1805,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
two  years.  Dr.  Cutler  felt  his  loss  keenly — many  fond  ex- 
pectations were  buried  with  him. 

Dr.  Cutler's  time  was  still  much  employed  in  Ohio  Company 
business.  Although  the  more  important  matters  of  the  com- 
pany had  been  adjusted,  there  were  minor  details  continually 
coming  up.  The  Indian  war  had  nearly  put  a  stop  to  emi- 
gration, and  western  lands  were  no  longer  sought  after  for  set- 
tlement, or  for  speculation,  and  the  increased  expenditures 
necessary  to  provide  for  the  defense  of  the  settlers  rendered 
the  eastern  proprietors  restive  and  fault-finding.  Being  the 
only  Director  residing  east  of  the  mountains,  it  devolved  upon 
him  to  hear  complaints,  make  explanations,  and  give  informa- 
tion on  all  subjects  connected  with  the  doings  of  the  company. 
It  was  no  small   labor  to   pay  out  the  dividends,  and  make  the 


492  Life  of  Rev.  31anaHseh  Cutler. 

deeds  to  the  shareholders  in  his  own  large  agency.  That  he 
met  with  many  annoyances  is  probable,  that  he  had  warm 
friends  is  certain.  This  is  indicated  by  the  following  letter  to 
a  friend,  a  draft  of  which  is  found  among  his  papers.  It  refers 
to  a  suit  begun  by  one  of  the  proprietors,  and  carried  through 
the  courts  to  the  Supreme  Court,  occasioning  much  anxiety, 
but  which  was  finally  decided  in  Dr.  Cutler's  favor.] 

[To  Colonel  B.  Tallmadge.] 

My  Dear  Friend : — It  is  not  in  my  power  to  express  the 
emotions  of  my  heart  when  I  read  your  most  agreeable  letter, 
inclosed  in  that  of  the  20th  of  September ;  nor  should  I  have 
failed  instantly  to  have  answered  it,  had  not  a  special  dispensa- 
tion of  Providence  in  this  town  obliged  me  to  delay  it  for  a 
few  days. 

The  generous  sympathy,  and  the  kind  part  you  take  in  the 

favorable  issue   of  my  contest  with  C claims  my  sincere 

acknowledgments.  This  unnecessary  lawsuit,  the  only  one  I 
have  ever  experienced,  has  been  a  most  painful  trial  to  me, 
but  I  hope  not  without  its  benefits.  I  feel  the  fullest  convic- 
tion that  those  trying  evils  which  may  seem  to  be  the  natural 
efl"ect  of  a  wrong  temper  in  a  fellow  creature,  are  under  the 
government  of  that  righteous  and  sovereign  God,  Avhose  hand 
ouo-ht  to  be  observed  in  our  minutest  concerns.  Tho'  I  have 
thought  I  could  adopt  the  reply  of  David,  with  respect  to 
Shimei,  still  I  have  it  to  lament  that  I  have  not  felt  more  of 
that  humble  temper  which  shone  so  conspicuous  in  our  blessed 
Lord,  under  the  criminal  abuses  he  received  of  men.  How 
glorious  the  religion  of  Jesus,  when  it  brings  us  to  a  cheerful, 
unconditional  submission  to  the  most  trying  events  of  human 
life,  and  when  we  can  keep  a  single  eye  to  the  Divine  glory  in 
all  our  conduct  under  them  ! 

But,  my  dear  friend,  it  is  not  this  part  of  your  letter  that 
gives  me  the  greatest  pleasure  ;  it  is  the  spirit  of  genuine  re- 
ligion which  breathes  thro'  the  whole  of  it,  and  particularly 
the  impressions  Avhich  you  observe  have  been  made  upon  your 
mind,  in  the  year  past,  that  rejoices  my  heart.  I  hope  and 
trust  I  can  sincerely  join  with  you  in  feeling  that  I  can  love 
the  image  of  Jesus  wherever  it  may  be  found.     From  our  first 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  493 

acquaintance  I  had  much  esteemed  you  for  many  admirable 
qualifications,  not  commonly  to  be  met  with  among  mankind ;  but 
you  have  now  discovered  another,  which  I  had  not  suspected, 
infinitely  more  desirable.  Your  letter  brings  to  recollection  a 
few  words  you  once  said  to  me,  when  we  Avere  last  at  Philadel- 
phia, respecting  your  brother's  family,  on  which  I  have  often 
since  reflected.  I  was  sorry  that  I  had  not  an  opportunity  to 
have  seen  them.  But  even  then  I  did  not  conceive  of  any  se- 
rious impressions  on  your  own  mind.  Our  companions  in  the 
business  of  the  Ohio  Company,  though  respectable  gentlemen, 
were  generally  of  that  description  from  whom  Ave  are  not  to 
expect  a  relish  for  the  serious  things  of  religion.  In  the  course 
of  this  unpleasant  business,  I  have  often  found  myself  in  situ- 
ations really  painful  and  trying.  It  has  not  been  easy  to  de- 
termine with  myself  Avhat  Avas  my  duty  as  a  clergyman,  nor 
what  part  I  ought  to  take  Avhich  would  have  been  most  for  the 
honor  of  the  religion  Avhicli  I  hope  has  been  deeply  impressed 
upon  my  mind  for  many  years.  In  this  age  of  infidelity  and 
wickedness  a  clergyman  is  {se  ipso)  an  unAA^elcome  companion. 
The  very  air  of  seriousness  is  disgusting,  reproof  is  despised, 
and  true  religion  branded  Avith  the  odious  epithets  of  hypocrisy 
and  superstition. 


494  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

Thk  Scioto  Purchask. 

On  the  20th  of  July,  1787,  Dr.  Cutler  says  in  his  Journal : 
"  Colonel  Duer  came  to  me  with  proposals  from  a  number  of 
the  principal  characters  in  the  city  to  extend  the  contract  and 
take  in  another  company,  but  that  it  should  be  kept  a  pro- 
found secret,"  and  "  offered  me  generous  conditions  if  I  would 
accomplish  this  business  for  them." 

July  27th,  he  writes  :  "  By  this  ordinance,  we  obtained  the 
grant  of  near  5,000,000  acres  of  land,  amounting  to  ^3,500,000  ; 
1,500,000  acres  for  the  Ohio  Company,  and  the  remainder  for 
a  private  speculation,  in  which  many  of  the  principal  charac- 
ters in  America  are  concerned.  Without  connecting  this 
speculation,  similar  terms  and  advantages  could  not  have  been 
obtained  for  the  Ohio  Company." 

This  "  speculation "  was  the  Scioto  Company.  Colonel 
Wm.  Duer  projected  it.  He  had  influence  enough  in  Congress 
to  procure  the  passage  of  the  ordinance  for  the  Ohio  Company's 
purchase  by  connecting  the  Scioto  speculation  with  it.  With- 
out it.  Dr.  Cutler's  negotiation  for  the  Ohio  Company  Avas  a 
failure.  With  it,  it  was  an  assured  success,  and  upon  terms 
dictated  by  himself. 

The  injunction  of  secrecy  was  as  to  the  fact  of  the  increased 
amount  of  land  being  for  a  separate  company.  The  "  gener- 
ous conditions  "  were,  that  if  Dr.  Cutler  would  secure,  for  the 
entire  amount  of  lands  asked  for,  the  support  of  the  members 
of  Congress  who  had  declared  in  favor  of  the  Ohio  Company 
grant,  Colonel  Duer  and  his  friends  would  undertake,  with 
Cutler's  assistance,  to  obtain  enough  additional  votes  to  pass 
the  ordinance  for  the  purchase  of  the  entire  tract  upon  ex- 
actly the  terms  stated  in  the  Ohio  Company's  petition.  This 
included  the  grants  of  land  for  the  establishment  of  a  Univer- 
sity and  the  support  of  the  ministry,  which,  next  to  the  ac- 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler  495 

complisliment  of  the  purchase  itself,  were   the   objects   most 
desired  by  Dr.  Cutler. 

Colonel  Duer  also  agreed  that  Cutler  and  Sargent  should 
have  for  themselves,  and  such  of  their  friends  among  the 
prominent  men  in  the  Ohio  Company  as  they  chose  to  interest, 
one-half  interest  in  the  proposed  right  of  purchase,  the  sale 
of  which  he  and  his  friends  would  undertake  to  manage. 

When  Dr.  Cutler  left  home,  but  little  more  than  one-fourth 
of  the  shares  of  the  Ohio  Company  had  been  subscribed.  The 
only  persons  who  had  been  active  in  securing  subscriptions 
were  Generals  Putnam,  Tupper,  and  Parsons,  Major  Sargent, 
and  himself.  It  w^as  by  no  means  certain  that  enough  shares 
would  be  taken,  or,  if  taken,  paid  for  in  time  to  make  the 
payment  required  on  signing  the  final  contract.  To  meet  this 
contingency,  Colonel  Duer  offered  to  loan  the  Ohio  Company 
$100,000,  without  interest,  or  such  less  sum  as  should  be  re- 
quired, to  be  repaid  to  him  as  collected.  If  any  deception 
was  practiced  upon  members  of  Congress  by  failing  to  explain 
to  them  fully  the  plans  of  Colonel  Duer,  it  was  more  apparent 
than  real.  The  articles  of  Association  of  the  Ohio  Company, 
which  were  read  on  the  floor  of  Congress  and  distributed 
among  its  members,  provided  for  the  purchase  of  so  much 
land  as  $1,000,000  in  securities  Avould  pay  for  and  no  more. 
The  Ordinance  specifically  authorized  the  Board  of  Treasury 
to  contract  with  any  "  person  or  persons,"  thus  plainly  con- 
templating the  possibility  of  separate  contracts.  Dr.  Cutler, 
in  an  interview  Avith  Mr.  Osgood,  of  the  Board  of  Treasury, 
on  July  25th,*  communicated  to  him  the  plan  "  in  all  its  parts." 
Mr.  Osgood  "  highly  approved  "  it,  and  said  "  that  we  might 
depend  on  accomplishing  our  purposes  in  Europe,  and  that  it 
was  a  most  important  part  of  our  plan." 

On  the  29th  of  August,  1787,  at  a  general  meeting  of  the 
Ohio  Company  in  Boston,  Dr.  Cutler  reported  the  result  of 
his  application  to  Congress.  The  report  was  approved,  and 
he  and  Major  Sargent  were  instructed  to  close  a  contract  for 
1,500,000  acres  on  the  terms  stated.  Colonel  Richard  Piatt, 
of    New    York,    Avas    elected    Treasurer.     A    resolution    was 


*See  Dr.  Cutler's  journal,  that  date. 


496  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

passed  calling  on  the  proprietors  to  pay  their  securities 
into  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  hy  the  4th  of  the  coming 
October.  The  propriety  of  accepting,  as  a  Company,  the  op- 
tion of  purchase  in  addition  to  the  1,500,000  acres,  included 
in  the  ordinance  of  Congress,  was  discussed,  but  no  action  was 
taken  upon  it,  because  of  the  opposition  of  many  shareholders, 
who  declared  that  they  would  withdraw  from  the  Company  if 
any  thing  beyond  the  original  purchase  was  undertaken. 

In  October,  1787,  Dr.  Cutler  and  Major  Sargent  returned 
to  New  York,  and  on  the  27th  of  that  month  closed  two  con- 
tracts with  the  Board  of  Treasury.  One  with  Manasseh  Cut- 
ler and  Winthrop  Sargent,  as  agents  for  the  Directors  of  the 
"  Ohio  Company  of  Associates,  so  called,"  was  an  absolute 
purchase  of  1,500,000  acres,  lying  between  the  Ohio  River? 
the  7th  and  17th  ranges  of  townships,  and  extending  north 
from  the  river  till  a  line  due  west  from  the  7th  to  the  17th 
range  should,  with  the  reservations  stated  in  the  contract,  in- 
clude the  whole  amount.  The  other  with  Manasseh  Cutler 
and  Winthrop  Sargent,  "  for  themselves  and  associates,"  was 
an  option  to  purchase  all  the  lands  lying  between  the  Ohio 
and  Scioto  Rivers  and  the  17th  Range,  extending  north  to  the 
line  of  the  10th  Township,  and  also  all  the  land  east  of  this 
tract,  west  of  the  7th  Range,  south  of  the  lOth  Township,  and 
north  of  the  Ohio  Company's  purchase.  The  whole  tract  of 
land  included  in  the  last  contract  was  estimated  to  be  from 
3,000,000  to  *  3,500,000  acres.  In  each  contract,  the  line  of 
the  17th  range  is  recognized  as  yet  to  be  determined.  The 
price  of  the  land  was  one  dollar  per  acre,  subject  to  a  reduc- 
tion of  one-third  for  bad  land,  to  be  paid  in  gold,  silver,  or 
securities  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  24th  of  October  Cutler  and  Sargent,  for  themselves 
and  associates,  "  ceded  and  conveyed,"  in  equal  shares  to 
William  Duer  and  his  associates,  the  right  of  pre-emption  or 
option  of  purchase  of  the  last  named  tract.  The  whole  own- 
ership was  divided  into  thirty  parts.  Thirteen  (13)  were  to 
belong  in  full  ownership  to  Duer,  in  which  he  could  join  such 
persons  as  he  saw  fit;  thirteen  (13)  in  like  manner  to  Cutler 

*It  proved  to  be  near  5,(100,000  ncres. 


Life  of  Rev,  Manasseh  Cutler.  497 

and  Sargent;  and  four  (4)  were  to  be  disposed  of  in  Europe 
for  joint  account.  William  Duer  was  authorized  to  contract 
for  the  sale  of  the  lands  in  Holland,  or  elsewhere  in  Europe, 
with  power  to  substitute  an  agent.  He  was  to  make  known, 
when  requested,  to  Cutler  and  Sargent,  tlie  progress  of  the  ne- 
gotiations. Royal  Flint  was  agreed  upon  as  the  agent  to  be  sent 
to  Europe.  In  case  he  could  not  go.  Colonel  Duer  was  em- 
powered to  name  another.. 

As  a  consideration  to  the  Ohio  Company  for  permitting  the 
contract  to  be  made  under  cover  of  its  petition,  Colonel  Duer 
advanced  to  it  $143,000  in  securities  to  enable  it  to  complete 
the  first  payment  to  the  Board  of  Treasury,  many  share-holders 
having  failed  to  respond  promptly  to  the  call.  This  amount 
was  repaid  to  him  Avhen  collected  from  the  share-holders  of 
the  Ohio  Company.  No  formal  organization  of  the  Scioto 
Company  in  America  was  ever  made.  There  Avas  no  occasion 
for  any.  Those  interested  held  assignments  of  proportions 
from  either  Cutler  and  Sargent,  or  Colonel  Duer.  The  entire 
management  of  the  sale  was  confided  to  Colonel  Duer,  whose 
business  experience,  financial  standing,  social  and  official  posi- 
tion were  such  as  to  inspire  his  associates  with  implicit  con- 
fidence. The  intention  was  to  make  an  immediate  sale  of  the 
right  of  pre-emption  to  the  entire  tract,  except  that  part  im- 
mediately north  of  the  Ohio  Company  lands,  either  in  Holland 
or  France,  where  large  amounts  of  the  public  debt  were  held. 
The  credit  of  the  United  States  Avas  at  its  lowest  ebb.  The 
Confederacy  had  demonstrated  its  utter  inability  to  enforce 
the  collection  of  a  tax  for  any  purpose  whatever.  It  had  no 
resource  from  which  to  pay  the  public  debt,  except  the  pub- 
lic lands.  The  Cutler  and  Sargent  option  comprised  the 
largest  tract,  to  which  the  Indian  title  had  been  extinguished, 
Avhich  was  now  offered  for  sale,  and  was  located  in  a  part  of 
the  country  which  all  who  had  visited  it  described  as  the  gar- 
den of  the  new  world.  It  was  fair  to  expect  that  holders  of 
the  public  debt  abroad  would  eagerly  exchange  their  securities, 
now  begging  purchasers  at  four  shillings  to  the  pound,  for 
such  lands,  and  at  prices  that  would  yield  a  handsome  profit. 

Soon  after  making  the  contract  with   Colonel   Duer,  Cutler 
32 


498  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

and  Sargent  assigned  equal  interests  ''^  to  Generals  Benjamin 
Tupper,  Rufus  Putnam,  S.  H,  Parsons,  and  Mr.  Royal  Flint. 
Generals  Putnam,  Tupper,  and  Parsons,  had  served  with  dis- 
tinction in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  were  the  most  promi- 
nent members  of  the  Ohio  Company  who  moved  to  Marietta. 
Royal  Flint  was  a  Connecticut  man,  a  graduate  of  Yale  Col- 
lege, who  had  served  as  paymaster  in  the  Revolution,  and  was 
a  prominent  merchant  in  New  York  cit}^  Joel  Barlow  had 
an  interest  equal  to  one-sixtieth  of  the  whole,  by  assignment 
from  Cutler  and  Sargent,  dated  26th  November,  1787.  Colonel 
Richard  Piatt  had  one  share,  or  one-thirtieth  of  the  whole,  by 
assignment  from  Colonel  Duer.  Andrew  Craigie  j  also  held 
an  interest.  There  is  no  positive  information  as  to  who 
Colonel  Duer's  other  partners  were.  The  original  shares  were 
soon  subdivided.  Dr.  Cutler  gave  to  Rev.  Daniel  Story  one- 
half  of  his  interest  to  induce  him  to  settle  in  Marietta.  Royal 
Flint  assigned  four-ninths  of  his  interest  to  Joel  Barlow. 
General  Putnam  assigned  a  part  of  his  to  Colonel  R.  J. 
Meigs,  Sr. 

In  May,  1788,  Joel  Barlow  was  selected  as  an  agent  to  eftect 
a  sale  in  France,  instead  of  Mr.  Flint,  whose  ill  health  pre- 
vented him  from  going  abroad. ;]:  On  the  14th  of  May,  1788, 
William  Duer  assigned  to  Barlow,  out  of  his  moiety,  such  part 
as  should  equal  one-sixtieth  of  the  Avhole.  Barlow  therefore 
held  an  interest  of  about  two  shares.  He  sailed  for  France 
May  25,  1788,  and  arrived  at  Havre,  June  24th.  For  author- 
ity he  had  certified  copies  of  Cutler  and  Sargent's  contract 
with  the  Board  of  Treasury,  and  their  assignment  and  power 
of  attorney  to  William  Duer,  and  a  power  of  attorney  to  him- 
self from  William  Duer,  giving  him  all  the  powers  which  Duer 

*Each  interest  is  described  as  one-sixth  of  eleven-thirtieths,  and 
a  proportionate  part  of  the  four  shares  reser\ed  to  be  sold  in  Europe. 

f  Andrew  I  "raigie  was  Apotheciiiy-General  ot  the  American  army 
during  the  Revolution.  He  lived  in  ('anibridL'e,  Mass.,  and  was  the 
owner  of  the  house  where  General  Washington  had  his  head-quarters. 
The  house  subsequently  became  the  home  of  the  jioet  Longfellow. 

J  Barlow  was  interested  with  Duei',  Craigie,  Piatt,  and  Joseph  Parker, 
in  a  somewhat  similar  speculation  on  the  Wabash,  and  had  prepared 
to  go  abroad  on  that  account,  but  because  of  unfavorable  letters  re- 
ceived in  April,  1788,  regarding  it,  did  not  go. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  499 

possessed  to  effect  a  sale  in  Europe.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
Barlow's  powers,  while  very  full,  extended  only  to  the  sale  of 
the  "  right  of  pre-emption."  Barlow  also  took  with  him  a 
copy  of  Dr.  Cutler's  pamphlet,  entitled  an  "  Explanation  of 
the  Map  which  delineates  that  part  of  the  Federal  Lands  com- 
prehended between  Pennsylvania,  the  Rivers  Ohio,  Scioto,  and 
Lake  Erie."  This  pamphlet  was  reprinted  in  Paris  in  1789, 
with  the  indorsement  of  Captain  Thomas  Hutchins,  the 
Geographer  of  the  L^nited  States,  as  to  the  accuracy  of  its 
statements. 

For  a  year  Barlow  met  with  indifferent  success.  In  the 
meantime  he  attended  to  other  business  for  Colonel  Duer,  who 
was  constantly  speculating  in  United  States  securities. 

Early  in  1789,  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  William  Play- 
fair,  whom  he  describes  as  "  an  Englishman  of  a  bold  and  en- 
terprising spirit  "  and  "  a  good  imagination."  In  July  of  that 
year,  the  Bastile  was  taken.  All  France  was  in  an  uproar. 
"  The  times  were  propitious  for  schemes  of  emigration."  Bar- 
low and  Playfair  together  issued  a  "  Prospectus  for  an  estab- 
lishment on  the  Rivers  Ohio  and  Scioto."  In  preparing  this, 
they  used  the  pamphlet  of  Dr.  Cutler,  and  Captain  Hutchins' 
description  of  the  Ohio  Country,  with  additions  and  embel- 
lishments wherein  Playfair's  "  good  imagination"  found  ample 
room  for  display.  To  it  Avas  attached  a  map,  copied  from  that 
of  Captain  Hutchins,  which  showed  the  line  of  the  17th  Range 
(the  boundary  between  the  Ohio  Company  purchase  and  that 
of  the  Scioto  Company)  as  intersecting  the  Ohio  River  oppo- 
site the  mouth  of  the  Big  Kanawha.  A  note  to  page  1  of  the 
Prospectus  says  :  "  The  writings  which  testify  the  powers  of 
Agents  "  can  be  seen  at  the  Bureau  of  the  Company.  In  No- 
vember, 1789,  they  concluded  a  sale  to  a  Company  formed  in 
Paris,  under  the  firm  name  of  the  Company  of  the  Scioto, 
the  principal  members  of  which  were  M.  Gouy  de  Arsy,  M. 
Barond,  St.  Didier,  Maheas,  Guibert,  the  Chevalier  de  Co- 
quelon,  Wm.  Playfair,  and  Joel  Barlow.  To  this  Company, 
Barlow  contracted  to  transfer  the  rights  of  his  principals  to 
the  entire  tract,  except  that  part  directly  north  of  the  Ohio 
Company  purchase,  unless  that  or  a  part  of  it  should  be  neces- 
sary to   make  three   million   acres.     All  the  lands  sold  were 


500  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

deeded  by  this  Company,     It  is  therefore  essential  to  examine 
carefully  the   contract  made   by  Barlow   with  it.*     By  this, 
Barlow  first  exhibited  and  proved  his  poAvers  of  attorney.     By 
virtue  of  these  powers,  he  "  sold,  ceded,  and  abandoned  in  full 
and  free  ownership  and  enjoyment  thereof,  except  at  such  time 
and  in  the  manner  stipulated,"  3,000,000  acres  of  land.     Then 
follows  the  description  of  the  lands,  the  price,  six  livres  per 
acre,  the  time   of  payment  commencing  December  31,  1789, 
and  ending  April  80,  1794,  the  mode  of  payment  either  in 
coin  or  United  States  certificates  of  indebtedness,  at  90  per 
cent,  and  the  conditions  of  possession.     "As  soon  as  and  not 
before  the  said   payments  are  remitted  arising  from  the  price 
of  the   present   sale,  Mr.  Barlow  binds   his   principals  toAvard 
the  Society  purchasing  or  its  assigns,  to  put  them  in  posses- 
sion and  enjoyment  of  an  amount  of  the  3,000,000  acres  pro- 
portionate to  the  amount  of  the  said  payment  at  the  aforesaid 
rate  of  6  livres  Tournois  per  acre.'"'     The  lands  were  to  be  lo- 
cated in  equal  tracts  from  the   17th   Range  westward.     Then 
follows   the  powers  by  virtue  of  which  all  deeds  were  given. 
"  The  said  Society  may,  moreover,  resell  all  or  a   part  of  the 
3,000,000  acres  before  the  times  hereinabove  fixed  for  the  pay- 
ment of  their  price,  provided  that  the  said  Society  gives  up 
to  the  Sieur  Barlow  under  the  title  of  pledge  the  agreements 
of  the  under  purchasers."     These  agreements  were   to  be  re- 
turned to  the  Society  when  they  "  paid   to  him  their  actual 
value."     This  Society  constituted   for  its   attorneys,  general 
and  special,  William  Playfair,  Joel  Barlow,  and  M.  Jean  An- 
toine  Chais  de  Soisson.     Their  powers  were  thus  expressed : 
"  To  whom  jointly  and  severally  they  "  (the  French  Society  of 
the  Scioto)   "  have  given  powers  to  resell  all  or  a  part  of  the 
said  8,000,000  acres  at  the  best  price,  terms,  or  conditions  of 
receiving  the  price  thereof,  or  to  assign  it  all  or  in  part,  and 
to  discharge  the  Society  with  respect  to  the  Sieur  Barlow,  to 
give  for  this  purpose   every  acquittance,  consent,  subrogation, 
and  to   disseize  in  consequence   the  Society  of  its   rights  of 

*  For  the  privilege  of  examining  :i  copy  of  this  contract  and  other 
contracts  made  by  Barlow  in  France,  referred  to  in  this  account,  1  am 
indebted  to  Mr.  John  M.  Newton,  of  Cincinnati,  who  has  presented 
them  to  the  Historical  and  Philosophical  Society  of  Ohio.     E.  C.  D. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  501 

property  over  the  objects  of  sale  in  favor  of  their  purchasers, 
and  generally  to  do  for  the  ease  and  accomplishment  of  the 
said  sale,  all  which  my  said  attorneys  appointed  shall  judge 
most  fit  for  the  advantage  of  the  Society." 

Mr.  Barlow,  in  agreeing  to  put  the  Society  in  possession  of 
the  land  in  tracts  as  paid  for  in  payments  of  less  than  $500,000, 
somewhat  exceeded  his  authority,  but  this  was  a  venial  sin.  If 
the  money  or  securities  had  been  paid  as  agreed  to  the  Treasury 
of  the  United  States  all  would  have  been  Avell.  The  authority 
he  gave  to  the  French  Society  of  the  Scioto  to  resell  in  ad- 
vance of  its  payments  was  entirely  upon  his  own  responsibility 
and  at  his  own  risk.  The  French  Society  of  the  Scioto  in  act- 
ing upon  it  did  so  at  its  own  risk,  for  Barlow's  powers  had 
been  exhibited,  proved,  and  made  part  of  the  contract,  and 
they  contained  the  exact  terms  of  the  grant  to  his  principals. 
Those  who  purchased  did  so  at  their  own  risk,  depending 
solely  on  the  French  Company,  for  the  most  casual  ex- 
amination would  have  shown  the  exact  value  of  its  title.  Mr. 
Barlow  did  not  send  to  Colonel  Duer  a  copy  of  this  contract. 
On  the  29th  of  November,  1789,  he  wrote  to  Colonel  Duer  the 
fact  of  the  sale,  the  price,  and  times  of  payment.  He  esti- 
mated the  profits,  after  deducting  '*  commissions  and  douceurs," 
as  upward  of  $1,200,000.  He  said  that  he  hoped  to  induce 
the  Royal  Treasury  of  France  to  accept  the  obligations  of  this 
"  French  Society  of  the  Scioto  "  for  the  American  bonds  it 
held,  and  to  close  the  whole  matter  within  a  year.  If  this  failed, 
the  sale  of  a  portion  to  individuals,  and  an  immediate  emigra- 
tion and  settlement  would  give  such  an  impetus  to  sales  that 
the  whole  tract  would  be  sold  in  less  than  a  year.  He  urged 
that  the  line  of  the  17th  Range  be  at  once  definitely  ascer- 
tained, that  preparations  be  made  to  receive  and  accommodate 
at  least  one  hundred  emigrants,  and  that  a  proper  person  be 
sent  to  Alexandria  to  conduct  them  to  the  lands.  He  called 
Colonel  Duer's  attention  to  the  necessity  of  securing  the  as- 
sent of  the  United  States  Government  to  a  plan  he  had 
previously  sent  him  for  obtaining  titles  to  the  lands  in  small 
tracts,  as  rapidly  as  paid  for,  or  the  mortgages  taken  for  de- 
ferred payments  deposited  with  the  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury, "  as  the  only  means  of  bringing  a  mere  pre-emption  into 


502  -Zyife  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

that  shape  in  which  it  could  be  fairly  oifered  for  certain  sale." 
As  an  additional  and  imperative  reason,  he  admitted  that  he 
had  so  far  exceeded  his  powers  as  to  give  the  French  Com- 
pany "  power  to  resell  portions  before  they  made  their  first 
payment  on  the  contract,  requiring  as  my  security  the  deposit 
of  the  payments  for  these  portions."  "  This  they  have  al- 
ready acted  on  to  a  considerable  amount.  Whatever  else  may 
be  done,  a  tract  of  at  least  5,000  acres,  opposite  the  mouth  of 
the  Big  Kanawha,  must  be  secured,  on  which  to  locate  the 
first  settlers."  Sales  were  rapidly  made.  Some  lands  were 
at  once  paid  for.  Some  persons  made  partial  payments,  se- 
curing the  rest  by  mortgage.  Some  made  contracts  for  lands 
to  be  paid  for  at  a  future  date.  The  deeds  were  signed  by 
William  Playfair  and  Jean  Antoine  Chais,  as  agents  and  attor- 
neys for  the  Society  of  the  Scioto.  To  some  of  them  Barlow 
added  his  approval ;  in  one  case  (Freville),  "  for  the  Company 
of  the  Scioto  in  America ;"  in  others,  "  I  approve,  J.  Barlow." 
The  deeds  were  accepted  by  many  persons  without  inquiry 
as  conveying  and  warranting  a  perfect  title.  The  warranty 
clause  in  the  deeds  is  as  follows  :  Playfair  and  Chais  "  as  such 
attorneys  in  fact  do  by  these  presents  sell  and  promise  to 
guarantee  against  every  kind  of  eviction  or  attack."  The  clause 
of  conveyance  is  as  follows  :  "  Whereupon   the  said  Playfair 

and  Chais  convey  and  transfer  to  the  said all  the  right, 

title,  interest,  claim,  and  demand  of  said  Society  ...  in 
said  lands  sold  by  these  presents,  giving  up  to  and  for  the 
use  of  said all  its  rights  to  the  full  and  peaceable  pos- 
session of  the  same  when  and  how  he  may  choose."  The  ex- 
act nature  of  the  title  conveyed  and  warranted  by  this  deed  is 
a  question  for  those  learned  in  the  law.  Bureau,  in  his  Mss. 
History,  speaks  of  them  as  "  deeds  artfully  called  legal." 
Many  purchasers,  among  them  Count  De  Barth,  Marquis  Lezay- 
Marnesia,  the  members  of  the  Society  of  the  Twenty-four,  and 
De  Hebecourt,*  were  not  satisfied  with  the  statements  of  the 
agent,  and  asked  an  abstract  of  title.  These  were  furnished 
with   copies   of   Barlow's   powers,   and   with   a  certificate    of 


*  Fully   half   of    the    land   sold  was    to   De   I'arth,    Lezay-Marnesia, 
De  Hebecourt,  and  the  twenty-four  associates. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  503 

Thomas  Jefferson,  then  Minister  to  France,  as  to  Barlow's 
high  cliaracter  and  the  wealth  of  Colonel  Duer.  Whatever  pay- 
ments they  made  to  the  Society  of  the  Scioto,  after  seeing 
these  pajaers,  they  did  at  their  own  risk,  relying,  of  course,  on 
the  assurance  of  the  society  that  it  would  faithfully  fulfill  its 
part  of  the  contract,  by  making  payments  as  agreed,  and  of 
Mr.  B-arlow  that  its  title  would  be  perfected  as  payments  were 
received.  The  Company  of  Twenty-four  associates  was  com- 
posed of  twenty-four  persons,  each  of  whom  purchased  1000 
aares  of  land  of  the  Society  of  the  Scioto,  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  a  city  and  colony  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio.  The 
leading  members  were  Count  De  Barth  and  his  son  M.  Bour- 
ogne.  Marquis  Lezay-Marnesia,  General  Duportail,*  General 
Duvalette,  Colonel  Rochefontaine,  M.  Thiebaut,  William  Play- 
fair,  M.  Chais,  and  Joel  Barlow.  All  of  these  and  probably  all  of 
their  associates  were  fully  aware  of  Cutler  and  Sargent's  contract 
with  the  Board  of  Treasury,  the  exact  nature  of  Barlow's  powers, 
and  of  at  least  a  portion  of  the  personnel  of  the  American  owner- 
ship. Rochefontaine  and  Duportail  were  connected  with  the 
French  Society  of  the  Scioto.  In  the  double  capacity  of  agent 
and  attorney  for  the  Society  of  the  Scioto  in  France,  and  for 
William  Duer  and  associates,  Barlow  located  the  lands  of  the 
Twenty-four  associates  in  Towns  1  and  2,  Range  21,  1,  2, 
and  3,  Range  22,  Towns  1  and  2,  Range  23,  Towns  4  and  5, 
and  part  of  3  in  Range  24,  and  attached  a  map  showing  the 
lands  to  lie  in  an  oblong  square,  except  the  part  next  the  Ohio 
River,  the  length  of  which  was  six  times  its  breadth.  As  one 
of  the  American  proprietors  he  made  the  following  agreement 
with  the  society : 

AGREEMENT    01'    BARLOW. 

Mr.  Barlow  binds  himself  in  the  names  of  his  co-partners, 

*  Chevalier  Louis  Duportail  was  educated  at  the  military  school  of 
Mezieras,  France.  He  came  to  America  during  the  Kevolution  and  at- 
taclied  himself  to  Lafayette.  He  was  commissioned  by  the  Continental 
Congress  Brigadier-General,  1777,  and  Major-General  in  !7biL  He  re- 
turned to  France  after  the  war,  and  by  the  influence  of  Lafayette  was 
made  Minister  of  War  in  1790.  Lafayette's  downfall  determined  his. 
In  17'J2,  warned  oi  an  accusation  against  him,  he  came  to  America, 
whence  he  was  recalled  in  1802.  He  died  on  the  passage  home. — See 
Drake  s  Diciioiuiry  American  Biography, 


504  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

Generals  Parsons,  Putnam,  and  Tiipper,  and  Major  Sargent, 
living  at  Marianna,  to  furnish  the  articles  hereinbelow  to 
Messrs. ,  of  the  Society  of  the  Twenty-four,  on  the  follow- 
ing conditions : 

1.  Flour  of  good  quality  in  store  and  places  which  shall  be 
furnished  to  them  at  the  times  they  shall  agree  upon  together 
upon  their  arrival  at  Marianna,*  and  in  the  quantity  they  shall 
also  agree  upon. 

2.  Salt  meats  of  good  quality  shall  also  be  stored  in  the 
places  and  furnished  in, the  proportions  agreed  upon.  When 
fresh  meat  can  not  be  had,  and  according  to  the  agreements 
had. 

3.  Hunters  shall  be  sent  by  Messrs.  Parsons  and  others  with 
the  colonists  to  provide  them  with  game. 

4.  In  case  it  shall  be  impossible  to  procure  all  the  game  that 
shall  be  necessary  for  consumption,  cattle,  and  other  domestic 
animals  shall  be  furnished  in  proportion  to  be  agreed  upon. 

5.  Carpenters  and  workmen  suitable  for  clearing  shall  be 
furnished  by  Messrs.  Parsons  and  others  in  numbers  sufficient 
to  help  the  new  settlers  to  build  their  first  houses  and  to  clear 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  country. 

6.  American  surveyors  shall  be  furnished  by  Messrs.  Par- 
sons and  others  to  locate  the  lands  of  the  new  settlers  the 
soonest  possible  after  their  arrival  on  the  lands. 

7.  Mr.  Barlow  engages  Mr.  Parsons  and  others,  as  well  at 
Marianna  as  at  Alexandria,  and  on  the  road  from  that  city  to 
Pittsburo;h,  to  furnish  the  Messieurs  of  the  Society  of  the 
Twenty-four,  wagons  for  the  transporting  them  and  their  bag- 
gage, horses,  and  plows  and  animals  of  which  they  shall  have 
need,  and  generally  all  they  shall  wish  to  procure  in  America, 
at  the  lowest  possible  price,  and  so  to  do  that  in  no  case  shall 
they  have  reason  to  complain  that  advantage  has  been  taken 
of  their  ignorance  of  the  customs  of  the  country. 

AGREEMENT    OF    THE    SOCIETY    OF    THE    TWENTY-FOUR. 

The  members  of  the  Society  of  the  Twenty-four  agree  with 


*  He  meant  Marietta. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  505 

Mr.  Barlow  and  his  friends,  Messrs.  Parsons  and  others,  to  the 
following  conditions  : 

2.  Each  one  of  the  associates  upon  arrival  shall  agree  upon 
the  quantity  of  flour  whereof  he  shall  have  need  per  day  or 
per  month,  and  Messrs.  Parsons  and  others  shall  receive  at  the 
appointed  time  the  payments  which  shall  be  made  by  each  of 
them  in  accordance  with  the  settled  price  of  the  country  for 
the  different  costs  of  food  so  furnished. 

3.  The  hunters  shall  be  at  the  charge  of  Messrs.  Parsons 
and  others,  and  the  game  furnished  to  the  settlers  who  shall 
be  bound  to  take  it,  and  shall  be  paid  for  according  to  the 
usage  of  the  country. 

4.  If.  any  agree  that  there  shall  be  furnished  them  fresh 
beef  or  any  other  kind  of  butchers'  meat,  each  one  of  the  set- 
tlers to  Avhom  it  shall  have  been  furnished  shall  pay  for  it 
according  to  the  price  agreed  upon  by  Messrs.  Parsons  and 
others. 

5.  The  associates  shall,  at  their  own  discretion,  make  with 
Messrs.  Parsons  and  others  every  agreement  which  shall  seem 
good  to  them  for  furniture  and  other  things,  but  no  one  of 
them  understands  that  an  engagement  made  by  him  can  bind 
his  associates,  who  shall  be  free  to  contract  with  any  other,  if 
so  be  it  seems  good  to  him. 

Mr.  Barlow  enters  into  the  engagements  of  which  mention 
has  just  been  made  only  to  insure  his  associates  the  supply  of 
every  thing  of  which  they  shall  have  need,  and  the  certainty 
of  not  being  deceived  by  those  Avho  might  try  in  America  to 
take  advantage  of  their  little  knoAvledge  of  the  language  and 
usages  of  the  country. 

By  the  middle  of  February,  1790,  the  French  Society  of  the 
Scioto  had  sold  over  100,000  acres  of  land.  Several  hundred 
emigrants  had  sailed,  a  great  part  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Marquis  Lezay-Marnesia,  Count  De  Barth,  and  the  Society  of 
the  Twenty-four,  as  purchasers,  renters  from  these,  or  laborers. 
There  were  others,  who  were  employed  by  Playfair  and  Chais 
as  laborers  for  the  French  Society  of  the  Scioto,  to  be  paid  in 
lands  after  a  term  of  years  ;  some  as  renters  from  the  Society, 


506  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

who  were  to  pay  one  bushel  of  wheat  per  acre ;  and  some  who 
had  purchased  "  small  tracts  for  homes  in  a  free  land.*' 

Barlow  had  written  Colonel  Duer,  on  the  8th  of  December, 
1789,  that  every  thing  was  progressing  well.  One  hundred 
emigrants,  in  charge  of  Colonel  Rochefontaine,  would  sail 
early  in  January.  December  29th,  by  M.  Bourogne,  Count 
De  Barth's  son,  who  went  with  the  first  emigrants  instead  of 
Rochefontaine,  he  wrote  that  he  expected  to  put  Colonel  Duer 
in  funds  to  make  the  first  payment  of  |oOO,000  to  Congress 
when  it  fell  due,  and  that  sales  of  500,000  acres  would  be 
concluded  in  January.  "  Many  respectable  and  worthy  fam- 
ilies will  go  out  soon ;  if  they  are  pleased,  half  a  million  of 
adventurers  will  follow."  The  same  date,  probably  by  the 
same  conveyance,  he  authorized  Duer  to  draw  on  him  for 
20,000  livres,  to  be  used  in  defraying  expenses  of  the  first  set- 
tlement. January  25, 1790,  he  wrote  to  Colonel  Duer,  authoriz- 
ing him  to  draw  for  100,000  livres,  and  added  :  "  The  affair  goes 
extremely  well,  though  no  payments  are  yet  made. 
Do  n't,  for  God's  sake,  fail  to  put  the  people  in  possession. 
Make  any  sacrifice  rather  than  fail  in  this  essential  object. 
If  it  fails,  we  are  ruined ;  all  our  fortunes  and  my  character 
are  buried  under  the  ruins."  He  urged  Colonel  Duer  to  raise 
$100,000  or  $200,000  for  a  short  time  to  put  the  people  in 
possession,  and  said  :  "  I  pledge  the  faith  of  an  honest  man 
for  the  payment.  If  necessary,  draw  on  me  for  a  second  hun- 
dred thousand  livres  at  ninety  days'  sight."  These  letters, 
whose  language  proves  them  to  be  in  regular  sequence,  are 
noticeable  for  the  lack  of  accurate  information.  No  reason  is 
given  for  the  non-payment  of  the  amount  due  31st  December, 
1789.  The  authority  to  draw  for  200,000  livres,  as  well  as 
the  previous  authority  to  draw  for  20,000  livres,  was  evidence 
to  Colonel  Duer  that  if  Barlow  had  not  that  amount  of  money 
in  his  possession,  he  had  securities  representing  it  from  pro- 
ceeds of  sales  to  under-purchasers  which  had  been  turned 
over  to  him. 

The  fact  of  Cutler  and  Sai'gent's  contract  with  the  Board  of 
Treasury  and  Colonel  Duer's  control  of  it  soon  became  knoAvn 
in  America,  and  was  variously  commented  upon,  particularly 
after  Barlow's  departure  for  Europe.     When  Dr.  Cutler  visited 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  507 

Marietta,  in  August,  1788,  some  members  of  the  Ohio   Com- 
pany from   Rhode   Ishxnd   charged   that  the  entire  amount  of 
lands  embraced  in  both  the  Ohio  and  Scioto  contracts  belonged 
to  the  Ohio  Company,  and  that  the  portion  held  b}^  the  Scioto 
associates  had  been  transferred  to  them  by  Cutler  and  Sargent 
without  consideration.*     Dr,  Cutler  indignantly  repelled  the 
charge.     On  his  return  home  in  October,  he  found  that  similar 
reports   had   been  spread.     A   meeting   of    a  number  of  the 
share-holders  had  been  held  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  and 
a  secret  committee  appointed  to   act  in  concert  with  share- 
holders from  other  states,  whom  they  hoped  to  interest,  to  se- 
cure control  of  the  Ohio   Company,  and,  if  possible,  of  the 
Scioto   contract,  jyhich   this   meeting  by   resolution   declared 
properly  belonged  to  the  Ohio  Company.     This  dissatisfaction 
commenced  with,  and  was  for  the  most  part  confined  to,  those 
members  of  the  Ohio  Compi.ny  Avho  had  become  share-holders 
after  the  contract  for  the  purchase  of  lands  had  been  made. 
In  answer  to  these   charges,  Dr.  Cutler,  in  November,  1788, 
issued  an  address  to  the  agents  and   proprietors,  in  which  he 
stated  the  facts  which  made  the  purchase  for  the  Scioto  asso- 
ciates necessary  to  secure  the   terms  finally  granted  the  Ohio 
Company.     He  showed  that,  except  for  the  arrangement  with 
Colonel   Duer,  it   would   have   been   impossible   for   the   Ohio 
Company  to  have  made  the  first  payment  to  Congress,  and  the 
contract  would  have  been  lost.     He  gave   an   abstract   of  the 
contract  of  Cutler  and  Sargent  with  Duer,  and  offered  to  ex- 
hibit the  original  to  any  proprietor  in  the  Ohio  Company  who 
wished  to  see  it.     He  presented  the  certificate  of  the  Treasurer 
of  the   Ohio   Company  that   Colonel  Duer  actually  advanced 
$143,000  to  complete   the   amount  required  for  the  first  pay- 
ment, and  to  verify  this  a  statement  of  the   accounts   of  the 
Treasurer  with  the  different   agents.     He   also   explained   the 
advantage  gained  by  delaying  the  second   payment  until   the 
exterior  line  of  both   tracts   had  been   surveyed,  and  showed 
that  the  two  contracts  bore  the  same  date  and  were  separate 
and  distinct.     This  gave  general  satisfaction. 

*Cutler'ri  Journal,  August  21,  1788.  "Felt  myself  much  injured 
yesterday  by  representations  made  by  the  Rhode  Island  faction  respect- 
ing the  Scioto  Company  purchase." 


508  Life  of  Rev.  Watiasseh  Cutler. 

In  May,  1789,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Ohio  Company  held  at 
Marietta,  General  Putnam  and  Dr.  Cutler  were  empowered  to 
ascertain  from  the  different  agents  the  number  of  unpaid 
shares,  to  declare  them  forfeited,  sell  them  if  possible,  and  to 
effect  a  final  settlement  with  the  Government.  This  Company 
had  paid  to  the  Government  half  a  million  dollars  in  securities 
on  account  of  its  purchase,  which  required  one  million.  It 
had  no  title  to  any  part  of  its  lands,  though  under  a  right  of 
entry  it  had  made  a  settlement  and  considerable  improvements, 
and  had  deeded  to  each  share-holder  a  quantity  of  land.  Until 
it  was  certain  that  the  division  of  the  land  would  be  completed, 
and  unincumbered  titles  given,  shares  were  almost  worthless. 
The  securities  in  Avhich  they  were  payable  had  doubled  in 
value  since  the  settlement  began.  There  appeared,  therefore, 
but  a  faint  prospect  of  selling  the  forfeited  shares.  Unless 
they  were  sold,  the  final  payment  to  the  Government  could 
not  be  made. 

In  January,  1790,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  in  a  report 
to  Congress  on  methods  of  funding  the  public  debt,  recom- 
mended that  the  price  of  public  lands  be  fixed  at  twenty  (20) 
cents  per  acre,  payable  in  Government  certificates  of  indebt- 
ness  or  coin.  General  Putnam  arrived  in  New  York,  30th 
January,  1790.  Dr.  Cutler  joined  him  late  in  February.  By 
advice  of  their  friends  in  Congress,  they  did  not  present  their 
petition,  as  it  was  thought  the  price  of  public  lands  would 
certainly  be  reduced,  in  accordance  with  the  recommendation 
of  Secretary  Hamilton,  and  that  the  reduction  would  be  made 
applicable  to  the  Ohio  Company's  contract.  February  27th, 
Dr.  Cutler's  interleaved  almanac  contains  this  entry  :  "  Scioto 
Company  met  this  evening  at  Colonel  Duer's.  Just  as  w^e 
were  seated,  we  received  letters  from  Barlow  announcing  the 
completion  of  his  contract,  much  as  we  wished." 

Colonel  Duer  had  probably  received  some  of  Barlow's  Ict- 
lers  before,  but  chose  this  time  to  communicate  them  to  his 
associates.  These  letters  showed  that  Barlow  had  exceeded 
his  powers  by  permitting  the  French  Company  who  had  pur- 
chased the  lands  to  give  deeds,  and,  by  calculations  from 
Hutchins'  map,  had  erred  in  locating  the  line  of  the  17th 
Range  as  intersecting  the  Ohio   River  opposite   the  mouth  of 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler.  509 

tlie  Big  Kanawha,  instead  of  near  the  mouth  of  the  Guyan- 
dotte,  as  shown  by  actual  surveys  just  completed.  But  they 
also  contained  the  most  positive  assertions  that  the  payments 
would  be  made,  and  by  the  authority  given  to  draw  for  220,000 
livres,  showed  that  Barlow  was  keeping  the  money  and  secur- 
ities received  for  the  lands  in  his  own  control.  There  was  no 
reasonable  doubt  that  the  government  would  give  deeds  for 
such  lands  as  were  actually  paid  for.  The  only  practical  dif- 
ficulties seemed  to  be  to  obtain  from  the  Ohio  Company  the 
lands  for  the  city  located  by  Barlow  opposite  the  mouth  of 
the  Big  Kanawha,  and  to  raise  the  money  required  immediately 
to  provide  transportation  and  homes  for  the  emigrants  who 
had  already  sailed. 

To  meet  this  unexpected  condition  of  things.  Colonel  Duer 
associated  Avith  himself  in  the  management  of  affairs.  Royal 
Flint  and  Andrew  Craigie,  the  three  being  styled  "  Trustees 
for  the  Scioto  Associates."  They  employed  General  Putnam 
to  make  arrangements  for  conducting  the  settlers  to  the  lands, 
preparing  cabins  for  them,  and  making  the  necessary  surveys. 
General  Putnam  was  a  man  of  careful  and  exact  business 
habits  and  methods.  While  sharing  the  general  good  feeling 
over  the  apparent  result  of  Barlow's  negotiation,  he  Avas  much 
displeased  with  the  manner  in  Avhich  sales  had  been  made.* 
Neither  himself.  Cutler,  or  any  other  of  the  Ohio  Company 
people  were  able  to  advance  money.  It  was  therefore  agreed 
that,  in  consideration  of  the  surrender  of  part  of  the  interest 
held  by  them,  for  which  a  power  of  attornej''  was  given  to 
Colonel  Piatt,  the  remainder  should  be  exempt  from  assess- 
ment and  indemnified  from  loss.  The  entire  business  of  lo- 
cating and  supplying  the  emigrants,  with  the  profits  arising 
from  it  (for  the  emigrants  were  to  pay  for  their  transporta- 
tion, food,  and  houses),  was  given  to  Duer,  Flint,  and  Craigie, 
probably  to  recompense  them  for  their  advances. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  Congress  would  during  that  ses- 
sion take  no  action  on   Secretary  Hamilton's  recommendation 


*  Putnam  to  Duer,  Jaiiuar}',  IT'Jl  :  '' The  moment  I  found  that  Bar- 
low began  to  retail  lands  in  small  quantities,  I  was  t'earlul  of  the  con- 
sequences." 


510  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

as  to  the  reduction   of  the   price   of  public  lands,  although  it 
seemed  likely  that  at  a  future  session  the  price  would  he  fixed 
at  not  over  twenty-five  cents  per  acre.     General  Putnam  then 
proposed  -■'  to  the  Trustees  that  they  should  purchase  the  for- 
feited shares  from  the  Ohio  Company,  take  the  three-acre  lots, 
the  city  lots,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-acre  lots  set  apart  for 
them  already  in  the  portion  of  the  Ohio  Company's  purchase, 
which  had  been  surveyed,  and  locate  the   remainder,  Avhich, 
when  the  number  of  forfeited  shares  was  definitely  ascertained, 
proved  to  be  196,544  acres,  in  a  compact  body,  fronting  on  the 
Ohio  River  between  a   point   opposite   the   mouth   of  the  Big 
Kanawha  and  the   true   line   of  the   ITth   Range,  the  western 
boundary  of  the  Ohio  Company  purchase.     They  accepted,  and 
on  the  23d  of  April  Rufus  Putnam  and  Manasseh  Cutler,  as 
Directors  of  the  Ohio  Company,  made  a  contract  of  sale  to 
Duer,  Flint,  and  Craigie,  "  Trustees  for  the  proprietors  of  the 
Scioto  lands,"  of  the  lands  represented  by  the  one  hundred 
and  forty-eight  shares  forfeited  to  the  Ohio  Company  for  non- 
payment and  located  as  above  described.     The  consideration 
Avas  $1,480,  in  specie,  to  be  paid  in  sixty  and  ninety  days,  for 
which  notes  were   given,  .$8,800  in  indents  f  of  interest,  and 
the  remainder   to  be  paid  when   the   Ohio   Company  made  its 
final  settlement  Avith  Congress  at  the  same  price  per  acre  and 
in  like  public  securities.     The  Scioto  associates  also  released 
to  the  Ohio  Company  the  right  of  pre-emption   or  option  of 
purchase  to  that  part  of  the  lands  held  by  them  north  of  the 
Ohio    Company   purchase. :{:       The  Scioto    associates   were  to 
have  the   same  right  to  enter  upon  and  occupy  the  lands  as 
was  given  to  the  Ohio  Company  by  its  contract  with  the  Board 

*.Putnam  to  Clap  and  others  in  1791.  "I  was  the  princi])al  in  that 
transaction  " 

-j-  Indents.  Serip  issued  prior  to  tlie  adoption  of  the  Constitution 
for  interest  as  it  fell  due  on  government  securities. 

J  Thus  described  :  Beginninji  at  the  nortti-west  corner  of  Township 
No  ]t>  it)  the  7th  Range  of  Townships  running  west  on  the  north 
boundary  of  the  Scioto  purchase  to  the  west  line  of  the  17th  Range; 
thence  south  on  the  west  line  of  the  said  17th  Range  till  it  comes  to  the 
north  boundary  of  the  Ohio  Company's  purchase;  thence  east  to  the 
west  line  of  the  7th  Range;   thence  north  to  the  place  of  beginning. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  511 

of  Treasury.     No  deed  of  conveyance  Avas  to  be  made  until 
the  payments  were  fully  completed. 

This  contract  was  rightly  deemed  of  great  value  to  the  Ohio 
Company.  In  case  the  price  of  public  lands  was  reduced,  as 
expected,  to  twenty  cents  an  acre,  the  amount  already  paid  to 
the  United  States  Avould  entitle  it  to  a  million  of  acres  more 
of  better  lands  than  were  included  in  its  contract,  in  the  terri- 
tory comprised  in  the  right  of  pre-emption.  To  secure  the 
application  of  such  a  reduction  to  the  Ohio  Company  contract 
the  aid  of  Duer  and'his  friends,  Avho  Avere  then  a  power  in  po- 
litical circles,  was  certainly  secured.  If  no  reduction  w^as 
made  the  original  contract  Avas  at  least  safe.  To  the  Scioto 
associates  the  contract  was  of  even  greater  importance,  for 
they  now  controlled  every  acre  sold  in  France.  After  the 
completion  of  this  contract  Dr.  Cutler  returned  home.  If  he 
took  any  further  active  part  in  the  Scioto  aifairs  there  is  no 
record  of  it. 

Under  instructions  from  Colonel  Duer,  General  Putnam,  in 
March,  employed  Major  Burnham  to  enlist  in  New  England  a 
company  of  men  to  build  huts  for  the  French  emigrants,  assist 
them  in  clearing  lands,  and  keep  such  guards  as  might  be  neces- 
sary. Early  in  May,  General  Putnam  went  to  Wellsburg,  on  the 
Ohio  River,  and  from  there, on  the  28th  of  May,  sent  James  Backus 
to  meet  the  expected  emigrants  and  conduct  them  on  their 
way,  to  inspire  them  with  patience,  provide  them  with  accom- 
modations and  good  treatment,  and  to  give  Major  Rochefon- 
taine  (who  was  supposed  to  be  in  charge)  "  every  information 
which  he  may  stand  in  need  of  to  assist  him  in  conducting  his 
people  to  their  place  of  settlement."  He  wrote  to  Major  Roche- 
fontaine  and  Colonel  Duer,  urging  that  the  people  be  not  sent 
beyond  the  Alleghanies  until  the  middle  of  September,  when 
a  new  crop  would  be  harvested,  owing  to  the  great  scarcity  of 
provisions.  On  the  same  day  he  advised  Colonel  Duer  that  it 
would  be  necessary  to  provide  food  to  carry  the  French  settlers 
through  the  Avinter,  and  notified  him  that  he  (Putnam)  Avould 
attend  to  providing  for  and  employing  Major  Burnham's  men, 
and  to  the  location  and  surveys  "  it  is  incumbent  on  the 
Trustees  to  make  to  fulfill  the  engagements  which  Mr.  Barlow 
may  have  made  to  the  settlers,"  but  could  not  undertake  any 


512  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

thing  else.  He  asked  that  money  be  sent  at  once  to  Colonel 
R.  J.  Meigs,  Sr.,  who  was  in  charge  of  surveys,  to  pay  debts 
already  incurred,  and  requested  a  copy  and  plat  of  sales 
made  by  Mr.  Barlow,  that  he  might  give  proper  instructions 
to  the  surveyors.  June  4th,  being  then  in  Marietta,  he  gave 
written  instructions  to  Major  Burnham,  who  had  arrived  with 
a  company  of  men,  recruited  in  Massachusetts,  to  proceed  to 
"  a  place  on  the  Ohio  next  Chickamauga  Creek,"  "  which 
would  be  marked  out  for  him  by  Colonel  Meigs,  and  there 
erect  four  block-houses  and  a  number  of  log-huts  agreeably  to 
a  plan  "  given  him,  and  to  clear  a  tract  of  land  along  the 
river,  and  divide  it  into  four-acre  lots,  as  shown  on  the  plan. 
Early  in  July,  General  Putnam  returned  to  Massachusetts,  to 
bring  his  family  to  Marietta. 

The  first  party  of  French  emigrants  reached  Alexandria, 
Va.,  about  May  1,  1790.  They  were  expected  at  an  earlier 
date,  and  Colonel  Franks,  who  had  been  sent  by  Colonel  Duer 
to  receive  them,  had  returned  to  New  York,  supposing  that 
they  had  made  another  port.  The  people  of  Alexandria,  as 
soon  as  they  learned  the  destination  of  the  newly  arrived 
emigrants,  informed  them  that  their  deeds  were  worthless  ; 
that  the  lands  they  purported  to  convey  were  at  best  of  little 
value  ;  that  the  Indians  in  the  North-west  Territory  were  nu- 
merous and  hostile,  and  that  much  better  land  could  be  had  in 
Virginia  on  very  reasonable  terms.  Other  emigrants  soon 
arrived.  Count  De  Barth  and  M.  Thiebaut,  and  soon  after  the 
Marquis  Marnesia,  were  deputed  to  wait  on  Colonel  Duer,  as- 
certain the  facts  in  regard  to  the  titles,  and  to  ask  a  compliance 
with  Mr.  Barlow's  agreements  for  transporting  them  to  their 
lands  and  supplying  them  with  provisions  en  route.  To  this 
committee.  Colonel  Duer  exhibited  the  proceedings  in  Con- 
gress *  in  reference  to  the  purchase,  the  contract  of  Cutlei* 
and  Sargent  with  the  Board  of  Treasury,  the  contract  made 
for  the  purchase  of  the  forfeited  shares  of  the  Ohio  Company, 
and  no   doubt   assured   them   of  his   intention  and  convinced 


*De  Barth  to  Putnam,  1790  ''Resolutions  of  (.'ongress  establishing 
its  approbation  of  sales  to  Cutler  and  Sargent."  De  Barth  had,  before 
leaving  France,  a  copy  of  Barlow's  powers,  which  referred  to  the  con- 
tracts, and  he  doubtless  called  for  them. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  '  513 

them  of  his  ability*  to  make  good  the  titles  to  the  lauds  they 
had  purchased.  In  answer  to  the  question  of  this  committee 
as  to  the  "  composition  of  the  Scioto  Company,"  Colonel  Duer 
said  :  "  The  Company  known  under  the  name  of  the  Company 
of  the  Scioto  was  originally  composed  of  thirty  (30)  shares, 
belonging  to  as  many  owners.  The  persons  who  held  these 
shares  were  for  the  most  part  those  who  had  much  influence  in 
the  formation  of  the  Company  of  the  Ohio  at  Marietta,  or  in 
the  Legislative  and  Executive  branches  of  the  Government. 
The  original  shares  have  since  been  much  subdivided,  but  the 
general  management  of  the  Company's  affairs,  as  well  in 
America  as  abroad,  has  been  entirely  trusted  to  myself  alone, 
and  I  have  for  aid  and  counsel  tAvo  Agents,  who  are  Messrs. 
Royal  Flint  and  Andrew  Craigie,  both  of  this  City."  The 
committee,  well  satisfied,  returned  to  Alexandria.  A  commis- 
sion appointed  by  Colonel  Duer  accompanied  them,  and  settled 
with  a  like  commission  appointed  by  the  emigrants,  certain 
modifications  of  Barlow's  agreement.  The  journey  over  the 
mountains  commenced  in  July,  and  continued  at  a  moderate 
rate,  under  principal  charge  of. Captain  J.  Guion,f  whom 
Colonel  Duer  had  appointed  Superintendent  of  the  Scioto 
Company  in  the  west  when  General  Putnam  declined. 

M.  Bourogne,  Count  De  Barth's  son,  went  to  New  York 
from  Alexandria  soon  after  his  arrival.  While  in  New  York 
he  became  acquainted  with  the  efforts  being  made  by  the 
Scioto  Associates  and  the  Ohio  Company  to  obtain  a  reduc- 
tion in  the  price  of  their  lands.  Barlow  had  written,  March 
3d, I  to  Colonel  Duer,  that  he  had  surrendered  his  contract  with 
the  French  Society  of  the  Scioto,  and  was  carrying  on  the  sales 
himself  still  under  its  name.     Bourogne  also  obtained  this  in- 

*A  good  reason  for  having  made  no  payment  to  Congress  (which, 
indeed,  was  not  due),  was  the  expectation  of  a  reduction  in  the  price 
of  land.     Tiiis  was  known  to  the  leading  men  among  the  French. 

-j- Captain  Guion  continued  to  act  as  Superintendent  until  about  Jan- 
uary ],  1792,  when  John  Mathews  was  appointed. 

X  In  this  letter  Barlow  says:  " 'I'hough  it  is  difficult  to  sell  for  cash, 
and  1  have  been  obliged  to  make  some  sacrifices  in  taking  property, 
etc.,"  thus  indicating  that  he  had  the  proceeds  of  sales  in  his  own 
control. 

33 


514  Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler. 

formation.  He  sailed  for  France,  and  on  July  22, 1790,  made  a 
contract  for  the  entire  tract  of  land  with  Barlow,  on  behalf  of 
himself,  his  father,  M.  Coquet,  Playfair,  and  General  Duvalette. 
Their  interests  were:  Messrs.  De  Barth,  father  and  son,  one- 
half;  M.  Coquet,  one-tenth;  General  Duvalette,  one-tenth; 
Playfair,  three-tenths.  The  contract  recites  that  this  Company 
shall  and  does  expressly  assume  all  the  engagements  of  the  for- 
mer company  to  the  public,  and  the  payment  to  the  American 
Government  for  the  lands.  Fifteen  sols  per  acre  were  to  be  given 
to  the  American  proprietors  as  their  sole  profit.  No  payments 
were  to  be  made  to  any  one  until  three  months  after  the  sale 
of  each  300,000  acres  ;  no  limitation  was  made  as  to  the  loca- 
tion, within  the  tract,  of  the  lands  the  company  might  sell. 
Ten  sols  per  acre  were  reserved  by  the  company  for  "  ex- 
penses of  management."  The  sales  already  made  were  to  be 
assumed,  and  to  be  calculated  as  part  of  the  first  lot  of  300,000 
acres.  The  money  and  securities  on  hand,  from  proceeds  of 
former  sales,  were  to  be  turned  over  to  this  company.  These 
sales  were  made  at  six  livres  per  acre.  The  new  company 
therefore  assured  to  itself  a  profit  of  seventy-seven  sols  per 
acre  on  the  lands  sold  by  the  French  Company  of  the  Scioto 
(about  140,000  acres),  and  a  handsome  working  capital,  as — 
except  a  thousand  crowns — the  money  received  for  the  sales 
had  not  been  remitted  to  America.  This  Company  agreed  to 
pay  Barlow  for  the  American  proprietors,  the  sum  of  50,000 
livres  on  the  1st  ©f  September,  1790,  and  authorized  him  to 
negotiate  immediately  (if  he  could)  a  loan  on  its  credit  of 
100,000  livres,  which  was  also  to  be  advanced  to  the  Amer- 
ican proprietors — both  sums  on  account  of  their  profits  of  15 
sols  per  acre. 

Of  this  brilliaat  and  final  operation  of  INIr.  Barlow,  Colonel 
Bochefontaine*  thus  wrote  to  the  Marquis  Lezay-Marnesia,  in 
August,  1790  :t 

"  He  (BarloAv)  has  contracted  with    a   new  Company,  who 


*  Rochefontaine  served  in  America  during  the  Revolution  as  Captain 
of  Engineers,  and  was  brevetted  Major  after  the  capture  of  Yorktown. 
He  had  attained  tlie  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Infantry  in  1791. 
He  was  obliged  to  leave  France  in  1792,  and  came  to  America. 

■j-  As  translated  for  General  Putnam  by  Mr.  Dimler. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseli  Cutler.  515 

have  engaged  to  give  him  150,000  livres  *  for  himself,  28  sols 
per  acre  profit  to  the  Company  in  America,  and  28  sols  per 
acre  to  Congress.  This  Company  consists  of  M.  Bourogne 
(M.  De  Earth's  son).  Coquet,  Duvarnel,f  Playfair,  and  Bar- 
low. By  a  very  bad  arrangement,  those  gentlemen  don't  pay 
for  the  lands  but  after  they  are  sold,  in  consequence  of  which 
they  Avill  sell  all  the  land  along  the  river,  and  will  leave  nothing 
for  the  proprietors  in  America  but  the  back  lands ;  and  what 
is  still  more  against  the  American  proprietors  is,  that  these 
gentlemen  have  no  other  funds  to  fulfill  their  engagements 
with  Mr.  Barlow  but  what  they  get  by  sale  of  the  lands.  In 
short,  they  will  make  an  acquisition,  as  they  are  daily  made 
in  Paris,  which  will  be  entirely  to  their  own  profit,  and  after- 
ward renounce  the  whole,  which  must  prove  highly  contrary 
to  the  interest  of  all  concerned,  as  this  will  give  a  bad  name 
to  the  affair,  and  hinder  the  country  from  getting  settled  as 
we  expected.  The  only  way  to  extricate  Duer,  Sargent,  Put- 
nam, and  the  other  partners  in  America  from  this  inconven- 
ience, is  to  refuse  ratification  of  the  article  contrary  to  their 
interest  made  by  Mr.  Barlow,  as  it  is  against  the  powers  in- 
vested in  him,  and  to  order  that  the  lands  be  sold  by  Mr.  Bar- 
low, Playfair,  Duportail,  and  myself;  and  I  can  assure  you 
that  by  this  method  the  whole  tract  of  lands  will  be  shortly 
sold  to  the  great  advantage  of  the  Company.  As  instance 
how  little  fit  Mr.  Barlow  is  to  transact  Public  affairs,  upon 
some  hopes  given  him  by  M.  De  Bourogne  and  others,  he  engaged 
Mr.  Duer  to  draw  on  him  (Mr.  Barlow)  notes  to  the  amount  of 
100,000  livres,  Avhich  has  been  done.  These  notes  are  to  be 
paid  the  28tli  of  this  month,  but  for  want  of  funds  they  are  to 
be  returned  unanswered.  If  this  new  company  had  been  wil- 
ling to  make  use  of  the  great  credit  they  announced  to  Mr. 
Barlow,  they  certainly  would  have  helped  him  out  of  this  cruel 
embarass  {sic),  and  would  not  expose  their  creditors  in 
America  to  the  enormous  expense  this  refusal  must  occasion." 

Rochefontaine  wrote  a  similar  letter  to  Colonel  Duer. 

As  soon  as  Colonel  Duer  became  aware  of  this  contract,  he 


*This  was  an  error.     There  is  nothing  to  show  that  Barlow  was  to 
receive  any  thing  for  himself. 
f  Duvalette. 


516  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

sent  Colonel  Benjamin  Walker*  to  France,  ■with  a  full  power 
of  attorney  to  displace  Barlow,  or  act  as  joint  agent  with  him, 
refuse  ratification  of  this  contract,  examine  into  the  accounts, 
obtain  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  that  had  been  made,  take  sole 
charge  of  the  affair  if  he  deemed  advisable,  and  endeavor  to  sell 
the  contract  as  originally  designed.  Col.  Duer  wrote  to  Barlow 
notifying  him  that  he,  and  he  alone,  was  responsible  to  the  French 
people  to  whom  he  had  given  or  permitted  to  be  given  deeds 
for  the  lands,  and  to  the  Scioto  Associates,  whose  interests  he 
had  so  shamefully  mismanaged  ;  upbraiding  him  in  the  severest 
terms  for  the  manner  in  which  he  had  conducted  the  business, 
for  the  failure  to  give  his  principals  definite  information  as  to 
his  operations,  and  for  permitting  the  bills  drawn  on  him  to  be 
dishonored.  Colonel  Duer  was  placed  in  the  most  embarass- 
ing  position  by  the  protest  of  these  bills.  He  reminded  Bar- 
low of  the  repeated  pledges  he  had  given,  "  on  the  faith  of  an 
honest  man,"  for  their  payment,  and  urged  him  in  the  strongest 
terms  to  make  good  the  amount  at  once,  and  save  him  (Duer) 
from  ruin. 

On  Walker's  arrival  in  France,  he  found,  w[iat  he  had  pre- 
viously suspected,  that  the  proceeds  of  sales  of  lands  were 
held  by  Playfair,  and  that  Barlow  had  apparently  received 
nothing.  He  succeeded  in  obtaining  from  Playfair  a  state- 
ment of  account  and  a  long  letter  of  explanation,  but  no 
money  or  property.  After  becoming  convinced  that  nothing 
could  be  done  by  persuasion,  he  placed  the  interests  of  the 
Scioto  Associates  in  the  hands  of  Colonel  Kochefontaine,  gave 
public  notice  by  advertisement  to  prevent  people  from  pur- 
chasing lands  from  Playfair,  and  in  April,  1791,  returned  to 


*  Benjamin  Walker  was  born  in  England,  1753;  died  at  Utica,  New 
York,  1818.  He  came  to  America  when  very  young.  He  entered  the 
American  army,  in  the  Revolution,  as  Captain  in  the  Second  New  York 
regiment;  was  detached  as  Aid-de-Camp  to  the  Baron  Steuben;  and, 
near  the  close  of  the  war,  served  on  the  staff  of  General  Washington. 
After  the  war  he  went  into  business  in  New  York  City  as  a  broker. 
During  President  Washington's  administration  he  was  naval  officer  of 
the  port  at  New  York.  He  was  a  member  of  Congress,  1801  to  1803. 
In  1797,  he  was  appointed  agent  for  the  Earl  of  Bute's  great  estates  in 
western  New  York. — Drakes  Dictionary  American  Biography. 


Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler.  617 

America.  A  letter  *  from  Barlow  to  Colonel  Walker,  dated 
London,  19tli  October,  1791,  shows  that  Walker  exonerated 
him  from  intentional  wron2;-doino;.  Letters  from  Barlow  and 
Rochefontaine  to  Walker,  and  Colonel  Duer's  correspondence 
with  Mr.  Matthews, t  his  agent  at  Gallipolis,  indicate  that 
Walker  had  agreed  with  Rochefontaine  to  form  a  new  Company 
to  purchase  one  million  acres  of  land,  assume  the  contract  for 
purchase  of  the  forfeited  shares  from  the  Ohio  Company,  and 
make  good  the  deeds  given  by  the  French  Company  of  the 
Scioto  for  such  lands  as  had  been  paid  for.  Two  things  were 
essential  to  the  success  of  the  new  Company — Congress  must 
reduce  the  price  of  the  public  lands  ;  the  settlers  must  be  pro- 
tected from  the  Indians. 

The  first  boat-load  of  French  emigrants  reached  Gallipolis  X 
about  October  20,  1790.  Captain  Guion  assigned  to  the  peo- 
ple houses  and  four-acre  lots  as  they  arrived.  Count  De  Barth 
and  the  Marquis  Lezay-Marnesia,  with  the  people  accompanying 
them,  refused  to  accept  the  quarters  provided  at  Gallipolis, 
as  they  wished  to  take  possession  of  their  own  lands  and  locate 
a  city  where  Portsmouth  now  is.  They  stopped  at  Marietta, 
and  pending  the  return  of  General  Putnam  from  the  east,  were 
assigned  quarters  in  Fort  Harmar.  General  Putnam  reached 
Marietta  November  5th.  Surprised  at  the  demands  made  upon 
him   by  De  Barth   and   Lezay-Marnesia,  he    requested    from 


*In  it  BatJovv  snys:  "  I  thuiik  you  very  much  .  .  .  for  tlie  candid 
and  honorable  manner  in  which  you  have  treated  my  character  and 
conduct.  .  .  .  I  have  got  a  credit  for  100  guineas,  for  which  I  con- 
sider myself  indebted  to  your  friendly  agency." 

f  John  Matthews  was  a  nephew  of  General  Putnam;  He  came  from 
New  Brain  tree,  Mass,  to  Ohio,  in  178*',  and  was  employed  under  Gen- 
eral Tupper  in  the  survey  of  the  first  seven  ranges  west  from  the 
Pennsylvania  line.  He  was  afterward  employed  by  the  Ohio  Company 
as  a  surveyor,  and  in  1790  was  engaged  by  Colonel  Duer  to  manage  his 
store  at  Gallipolis,  and  soon  became  his  principal  agent  in  the  North- 
west Territory.  In  1796,  Mr.  Matthews  married  a  daughter  of  Judge 
Woodbridge,  of  Marietta,  and  settled  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  ultimately  became  a  farmer  on  a  large  scale.  "  He  was  one 
of  the  most  useful,  active,  and  clear-headed  men  Ohio  ever  claimed  as 
a.  citizen." — See  HiUlretlis  Pioneer  History. 

J  Name  given  in  France  by  the  Society  of  the  Twenty-four  to  a  town 
to  be  located  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Kanawha. 


518  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  GtUler. 

them  a  statement  in  writing  of  all  ajireements  made  with  them 
by  BarloAV  and  Colonel  Duer,  of  none  of  which  he  had  been 
advised.  Count  De  Bartli  responded  in  a  long  letter,  giving  a 
complete  history  of  Barlow's  operations  in  France.  General 
Putnam  referred  the  letter  to  Colonel  Duer,  and  wrote  asking 
for  money  to  defray  expenses  already  incurred,  and  inclosed 
an  estimate  of  the  amount  needed  to  make  surveys  and  build 
houses  for  De  Barth  and  Lezay-Marnesia.  Shortly  after  writing, 
he  received  a  letter  from  Colonel  Duer  in  answer  to  one  written 
in  September,  promising  to  send  money  immediately,  and  say- 
ing that  he  had  received  but  one  thousand  crowns  in  all  from 
Barlow;  that  Bai'low  had  not  sent  him  copies  of  any  contracts 
he  had  made,  or  any  list  of  lands  sold,  and  that  it  would  be 
necessary  to  make  surveys  from  the  deeds  held  by  purchasers. 
On  receipt  of  this  letter.  General  Putnam  sent  Mr.  James 
Backus  with  a  surveying  party  to  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto  to 
locate  the  city.  Several  of  the  emigrants  accompanied  him. 
Before  this  survey  commenced,  new  actors  appeared  on  the 
scene.  The  Indians,  emboldened  by  the  defeat  of  General 
Harmar  [in  October,  1790],  took  the  war-path,  and  boasted 
that  before  the  budding  of  the  trees,  they  would  quench  in  the 
white  man's  blood  the  fire  in  every  Avhite  man's  cabin  north- 
west of  the  Ohio  River.  The  surveyors  were  driven  in. 
Early  in  January,  1791,  the  Ohio  Company  block-house  at  Big 
Bottom  (thirty  miles  north  of  Marietta)  was  attacked  and  its 
inmates  killed  or  captured.  The  settlements  were  hurriedly 
put  in  a  state  of  defense.  General  Putnam  issued  a  stirring 
address  to  the  French  in  Fort  Harmar,  reminding  them  that 
Frenchmen  and  Americans  fought  side  by  side  in  the  war  for 
independence,  and  that  it  was  by  the  aid  of  the  "  Magnanimous 
Monarch  of  France  that  the  United  States  were  enabled  to 
wrest  this  very  country  from  Britain."  He  urged  them  to 
form  a  company,  under  officers  of  their  own  choice,  and  join 
in  the  defense  against  the  common  enemy.  Few  i-esponded  to 
the  call.  The  Marquis  Lezay-Marnesia  went  to  Pittsbui'gh,  and 
soon  after  returned  to  France.  Count  De  Barth  went  to  Phila- 
delphia to  negotiate  further  with  Colonel  Duer.  Some  of  the 
people  remained  at  Marietta;  some  went  to  Gallipolis ;  others 
to  the  French  settlements  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 


Life  of  Rev.  3Ianasseh  Cutler.  519 

The  settlers  at  Gallipolis,  though  their  expectations  were 
not  realized,  were  not  especially  dissatisfied.  The  Indian  war 
was  accepted  as  a  sufficient  excuse  for  the  failure  of  the  Scioto 
Associates  to  locate  them  upon  the  lands  they  had  .purchased. 
In  the  fall  of  1700,  Colonel  Duer,  who  had  the  contract  for 
supplying  the  troops  in  the  North-west  Territory,  established 
a  large  store  at  Gallipolis,  and  placed  Mr.  John  Matthews  in 
charge.  From  this  store  he  supplied  the  inhabitants  Avitli  food 
and  clothing,  taking  from  those  who  had  no  money  (and  few 
had  any)  assignments  of  their  deeds  of  land  as  security.  In 
the  Spring  of  1791,  the  people  commenced  the  cultivation  of 
grapes  on  the  four-acre  lots  which  had  been  cleared  for  them 
by  Burnham's  men  adjacent  to  Gallipolis,  and  early  in  April, 
1792,  Mr.  Matthews  wrote  Colonel  Duer  that  the  people  had 
enjoyed  remarkable  health,  and  that  "  the  success  of  their  ex- 
periments in  making  wine  and  brandy  are  circumstances  that 
attach  them  very  much  to  the  country,"  and  that  "  peace  and 
possession  of  their  lands  would  render  them  hcureux  com  me 
des  Dieux.'' 

In  February,  1792,  Colonel  Robert  Oliver,  General  Rufus 
Putnam,  and  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler,  a  majority  of  the  Directors 
of  the  Ohio  Company,  met  in  Philadelphia,  where  Congress 
was  then  in  session,  to  effect  a  final  settlement  with  Congress, 
and  in  general  of  the  affairs  of  the  company.  They  presented 
a  petition  to  Congress,  asking  that  the  whole  1,50(3,000  acres 
of  land  included  in  the  original  contract  be  deeded  to  the 
Company  for  the  payment  of  ^500, 000,  in  securities,  already 
made,  and  that  a  grant  of  100,000  acres  be  made  to  compen- 
sate it  for  the  lands  donated  to  actual  settlers  and  promised  to 
those  performing  military  duty,  and  for  expenses  incurred  in 
maintaining  troops  for  defense  against  the  Indians.  The  con- 
dition of  the  French  settlers  at  Gallipolis  was  discussed.  It 
was  agreed  that,  if  the  Scioto  Associates  failed  to  pay  for  the 
lands  they  had  contracted  for,  as  appeared  probable,  and  the 
donation  of  one  hundred  thousand  acres  was  made  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  permit,  the  French  settlers  should  be  given  100 
acres  each  in  the  vicinity  of  Gallipolis,  so  located  as  to  include 
their  improvements.  This  was  stated  to  the  committee  who 
had  the  petition  in  charge,  and  a  bill  was  reported  in  accord- 


520  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

ance  with  this  (lesio;n.  Contxress  had  refused  to  make  a  reduc- 
tion  in  the  price  of  the  public  lands.  The  Indians  had  de- 
feated the  army  under  General  St.  Clair,  which  sought  to 
destroy  their  villages  and  conquer  peace.  Government  secur- 
ities were  still  increasing  in  value.  The  fact  that  the  Ohio 
Company  had  in  its  Treasury  over  ^200,000  of  securities,  which 
could  be  applied  in  part  payment  of  the  §500,000  still  due  on 
its  original  contract,  was  known  to  the  members  of  Congresr. 
The  bill  reported  by  the  Committee  met  much  opposition,  and 
action  on  it  was  long  delayed.  Early  in  April,  there  occurred 
a  financial  panic  in  New  York.  Colonel  Duer  failed,  and, 
after  the  barbarous  fashion  of  the  times,  was  imprisoned  for 
debt.  Flint  and  Craigie  also  failed.  The  notes  given  for  the 
148  forfeited  shares  of  the  Ohio  Company  were  surrendered, 
and  the  contract  of  sale  was  canceled.  Colonel  Piatt  went 
down  with  the  rest,  heavily  indebted  to  the  Ohio  Company,  of 
Avhich  he  Avas  Treasurer.  On  the  21st  of  April,  1792,  a  bill 
finally  passed  both  houses  of  Congress,  confirming  to  the  Ohio 
Compan}^  the  title  to  750,000  acres  of  land,  extending  along 
the  Ohio  River  from  the  Avest  line  of  the  7th  Range  to  the 
Avest  line  of  the  15tli  Range.  An  additional  grant  of  214,- 
285  acres  Avas  made,  to  be  paid  for  in  army  bounty  rights. 
100,000  acres  Avere  granted  to  the  Directors  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, in  trust,  to  be  deeded  in  tracts  of  100  acres  each  to 
actual  settlers.  The  last  tAvo  named  tracts  Avere  to  adjoin  the 
750,000-acre  tract,  and  to  be  within  the  limits  of  the  1,500,000 
acres  orifjinallv  contracted  for  by  the  Ohio  CompanA^  The 
clause  in  the  laAV  g-rantino-  the  donation  tract  Avas  saved  in  the 
Senate  bv  the  vote  of  Vice-President  John  Adams.  The  bill 
passed  made  it  impossible  to  give  to  the  French  settlers  dona- 
tion lands  at  or  near  Gallipolis.  That  place  Avas  included 
in  the  750,000-acre  tract  Avhich  the  bill  directed  by  fixed 
boundaries  to  be  deeded  to  the  Ohio  Company.  Land  near  it 
could  not  be  exchanged  for  land  in  the  donation  tract,  for 
the  title  to  that  did  not  vest  in  the  Ohio  Company.  It  Avas  a 
trust  for  a  specific  purpose.  The  donation  tract  Avas  located 
on  the  Avaters  of  the  Muskingum,  Avhere  Avere  the  grants 
already  promised  by  the  Ohio  Company  to   settlers  Avho  had 


Life  of  Rev.  31cma8seh  Cutler.  521 

made  improvements,  built  forts,  and  -who  we-re  then   perform- 
ing military  duty. 

The  failure  of  Colonel  Duer  threw  the  people  of  Gallipolis 
upon  their  own  resources.  Although  there  was  some  suffer- 
ing, and  many  moved  away,  the  settlement  Avas  too  firmly  es- 
tablished to  be  broken  up.  The  Indians  were  troublesome  in 
1792  oud  1793,  and  a  company  of  Militia  was  organized  at 
Gallipolis  and  taken  into  the  service  of  the  Territorial  Gov- 
ernment, and  a  company  of  regular  soldiers  was  also  stationed 
there.  Early  in  1791  M.  Gervais,  one  of  the  emigrants  who 
had  purchased  4,000  acres  of  land  for  himself,  went  to  Phila- 
delphia and  counseled  with  Mr.  P.  S.  Duponceau,*  a  French- 
man and  a  lawyer  of  eminence,  who  had  been  in  America 
since  1777,  as  to  the  best  method  to  secure  a  title  to  the  lands 
purchased.  Mr.  Duponceau  informed  him  that  the  legal  rem- 
edy was  Against  the  French  Company  of  the  Scioto  and  its 
agents,  unless  the  contract  for  sale  of  the  forfeited  shares, 
made  by  the  Ohio  Company  to  Duer,  Flint,  and  Craigie,  as 
Trustees  for  the  Scioto  Associates,  was  such  that  a  title  had 
actually  passed.  Mr.  Duponceau  prepared  a  petition  asking 
for  relief  for  the  French,  and  presented  it  to  the  Senate  of 
the  United  States.  It  was  referred  to  a  Committee,  who  re- 
ported a  bill  summoning  the  Directors  of  the  Ohio  Company 
to  appear  and  show  cause  why  so  much  of  the  grant  of  750,000 
acres  to  them,  in  1792,  as  should  be  sufficient  to  satisfy  the 
claims  of  the  French,  should  not  be  declared  void.  This  bill 
or  order  was  served  upon  Rufus  Putnam,  Robert  Oliver,  and 
Griffon  Green,  through  De  Hebecourt,  then  postmaster  at 
Gallipolis.     No  notice  was  served   upon  Dr.  Cutler,  who  be- 

*  Peter  Stephen  Duponceau  was  born  in  the  Isle  of  Rhe,  Fiance, 
17fiO.  He  came  to  America  with  the  Baron  Steuben,  whom  he  assisted 
in  preparing  a  S3'stem  of  drill  and  discipline  for  the  Continental  army. 
For  his  army  services  he  was  brevetted  Captain.  In  i7Sl,hewas  ap- 
pointed Secietary  to  R.  R.  Livingston,  then  iiead  of  foreign  affairs. 
After  the  war  he  studied  law,  and  settled  in  Philadel]ihia,  where  he 
died.in  1844.  He  became  eminent  in  his  profession,  and  also  attained 
high  reputation  in  the  world  of  lettei's.  Harvard  University  conferred 
the  degree  of  LL.D.  upon  him  in  ISJU. — tSee  Drake's  DicHonari/  American 
Biograpliij. 


522  Life  of  Rev.  ManasseJi  Cutler. 

came  aAvare  of  the  bill  by  reading  it  in  a  Philadelphia  paper. 
By  advice  of  their  friends  in  Congress,  Putnam,  Oliver,  and 
Green  made  no  response  to  this  order.  It  was  a  question  for 
Courts,  not  Legislatures. 

Dr.  Cutler  applied  to  Senator  George  Cabot  *  for  informa- 
tion. 

In  a  letter  to  General  Putnam,  16th  October,  1794,  he  gives 
Senator  Cabot's  statement,  as  follows  :  "  He  says  there  were 
no  debates  in  the  Senate  on  the  petition  of  the  French.  It 
was  introduced,  he  thinks  by  the  bill  which  I  showed  him  ; 
that  the  bill  was  committed  ;  that  the  report  Avas  that  the  Di- 
rectors should  be  notified.  He  also  says  that  Colonel  Burr, 
and  some  others  of  the  anti-federal  clan,  came  forward  very 
warm  in  favor  of  the  French,  and  very  bitter  against  the  Ohio 
Company  ;  and,  among  other  things,  it  was  asserted  that  the 
Ohio  Company,  by  their  own  doings,  had  acknowledged  them- 
selves interested  in  the  Scioto  business;  that  the  Directors 
had  refused  to  give  the  French  any  share  of  the  Donation 
lands ;  that  the  French  were  imposed  upon  in  France  by  false 
descriptions,  maps,  etc.  Mr.  Cabot  very  politely  offered  to 
interest  himself  in  our  behalf.  He  thought  it  best  that  he 
should  be  informed  of  the  circumstances  of  the  two  purchases 
in  writing,  that  he  might  be  prepared  to  meet  the  opposite 
party.  I  accordingly  put  into  his  hands  a  statement,  in  which 
I  have  defeailed  the  circumstances  of  the  applications  of  the 
the  Committee  to  Congress  for  the  whole  tract,  to  the  Board 
(of  Treasury)  for  the  two  separate  contracts,  the  advantages 


*  George  Cabot,  statesman;  born,  iSalem,  December  'i,  1752;  died, 
Boston,  A[iril  18,  1823.  After  passing  two  years  at  Harvard  University, 
he  went  to  sea  for  a  short  time,  and  then  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  was  very  eminent  and  successful.  .  .  .  He  was 
a  member  of  the  INIassachusetts  State  Convention,  and  of  that  which 
ratified  the  C-'onstitution  of  the  United  States.  He  was  United  Stales 
Senator  in  IT'JI-G;  a  confidential  friend  of  Washington,  and  of  Ham- 
ilton, of  whom  he  was  an  able  coadjutor  in  the  iormation  of  his  finan- 
cial system.  He  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  1798,  which  he 
declined.  In  1814,  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  which  met  at  Hart- 
ford, and  was  President  of  that  body.  He  was  a  leader  of  the  Federal 
party. — Drake's  Diet.  Am.  Biog. 


Life  of  Rev.  31anasseh  Cutler.  523 

whicli  both  companies  had  in  view  ;  inclosed  him  my  printed 
report  at  Boston,  and  the  printed  doings  of  the  meetings  in 
Boston  and  Providence,  to  prove  that  the  Ohio  Company  had 
no  interest,  as  such,  in  the  Scioto." 

No  action  was  had  against  the  Ohio  Company  by  reason  of 
this  bill. 

In  January,  1795,  the  donation  tract  of  the  Ohio  Company 
was  thrown  open  for  occupancy,  and  offered  free  in  lots  of 
100  acres  to  each  settler.  Notice  was  given  to  the  "  French 
settlers  at  Gallipolis,  Avith  all  others  at  that  place,  .  .  . 
to  come  forward  by  associations,  or  individually,  and  receive 
lands  if  they  please." 

In  March,  1795,  Congress  gave,  in  response  to  the  petition 
presented  by  Duponceau,  24,000  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now 
Scioto  County,  Ohio,  to  the  French  settlers  over  18  years  of 
age  who  would  be  in  Gallipolis  on  November  1st  of  that  year. 
Four  thousand  acres  were  given  to  M.  Gervais  for  his  serv- 
ices ;  the  remainder  was  divided  among  ninety-two  persons 
reported  by  General  Rufus  Putnam,  appointed  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Treasury  for  that  purpose,  as  entitled  to  receive 
lands  under  the  act.  This  grant  was  made  to  the  French 
without  prejudice  to  their  rights  of  action  against  any  person 
or  persons  by  reason  of  existing  contracts.  Settlement  was 
to  be  made  on  each  lot  within  five  years,  to  confirm  the  title 
to  it. 

In  December,  1795,  the  Ohio  Company  held  a  meeting  in 
Marietta,  to  make  final  division  of  its  lands.  A  committee 
appointed  by  the  citizens  of  Gallipolis  attended,  and  asked 
that  the  town  site  be  given  to  the  settlers.  This  was  re- 
fused, but  an  application  to  purchase  at  a  low  price  was 
favorably  considered,  and  two  fractional  sections,  containing 
900  acres,  including  Gallipolis  and  the  improved  lands  ad- 
jacent, were  sold  to  the  inhabitants  at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter 
an  acre. 

Each  Frenchman,  therefore,  who  remained  at  Gallipolis 
through  the  year  1795,  was  entitled  to  217f  acres  of  land 
in  the  "French  Grant"  (as  it  is  still  called),  in  Scioto 
County,  and  100   acres  of  land  in  the   Ohio    Company  do- 


524  Life  of  Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 

nation  tract  on  the  waters  of  the  Muskingum.  Each  had 
received  a  log  house  from  the  Scioto  Associates,  and  hehl  the 
lot  he  had  improved  by  paying  for  it  at  the  price  of  wild 
land.  Many  were  indebted  to  Colonel  Duer  for  eighteen 
months'  subsistence  and  clothing. 


END    OF    VCL.   I. 


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